Lebanon becomes first Arab nation to abolish death penalty

Lebanon has observed an unofficial moratorium on executions since January 2004.

A majority of MPs in the 128-seat parliament backed the measure on Tuesday, while Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc voted against it.

Lawmakers approved the bill during a two-day legislative session that also included debate on a long-disputed general amnesty law.

Lebanon’s parliament has passed a law to abolish capital punishment, making it the first country in the Middle East to do so.