Key facts
- Lebanon's parliament passed a sweeping amnesty law on Wednesday.
- This is the first such legislation enacted in Lebanon since 1991.
- The law aims to alleviate prison overcrowding and benefit thousands of individuals.
- Sentences for those facing death and life imprisonment have been reduced.
- Inmates held for over 12 prison years without charges may be released.
Lebanon's parliament approved a comprehensive amnesty law on Wednesday, marking the first such legislation since 1991. The law is intended to reduce severe prison overcrowding, with many inmates awaiting trial for extended periods. The office of the parliament speaker announced the approval of a draft law granting general amnesty and reducing certain sentences.
According to lawmaker Imad al-Hout, the law reduces sentences for those facing death and life imprisonment to 17 prison years, which equates to 12 years and nine months of actual imprisonment in Lebanon. Additionally, inmates detained for over 12 prison years without charges may be released while their trial continues. This development follows Lebanon's abolition of the death penalty the previous day, making it the first country in the Middle East to formally end the practice.
The amnesty law gained renewed attention following the 2024 fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, as many Islamist prisoners in Lebanon were jailed in connection with events related to the Syrian civil war. These individuals often hail from Tripoli and are accused of crimes such as attacking the Lebanese army and planning bombings. Other political groups, including Hezbollah and its ally Amal, have also advocated for amnesty for their communities, particularly for drug-related offenses and car theft in regions like Baalbek and Hermel. Christian parties have also pushed for provisions benefiting families of those who joined an Israeli-backed militia and fled to Israel after 2000.
Lebanon's National Human Rights Commission reported a 300 percent overcrowding rate in its prisons in 2025, with at least 6,268 inmates recorded by the end of March. The country's last general amnesty law was passed after its 1975-90 civil war, which allowed former warlords to enter politics without facing trial for wartime crimes.