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Amnesty After Death Penalty
Lebanon’s parliament passed a controversial general amnesty law on Wednesday, a day after lawmakers voted to formally abolish the death penalty.
“Lebanon's parliament Wednesday passed a controversial general amnesty law”
The law replaces death sentences with long prison terms, reduces life sentences, and frees some convicted militants and drug dealers, while excluding rape, trafficking, corruption, terror funding, and premeditated murder.
Critics said the amnesty is skewed and largely benefits Sunni Islamist prisoners, and the BBC reported the legislation was approved in a “show-of-hands vote” by Lebanon’s parliament.
The dispute has been tied to sectarian tensions and the fate of extremist Islamist prisoners, including firebrand cleric Ahmad al-Assir, whose fate remains unclear as lawmakers debated whether he could be released under the new framework.
Who Gets Released
Al Jazeera reported that Lebanese authorities did not immediately announce the number of people freed or receiving reduced sentences, but it cited lawmaker Imad al-Hout saying the law reduced sentences of those facing death and life imprisonment to 17 “prison years.”
Al Jazeera also said the law calls for the release of inmates in ongoing trials who have been detained for more than 12 prison years without charges as their trial continues.
The National reported that Lebanon’s prison population is about 8,500 while capacity is only 4,500, and it said inmates are set to be released or have their sentences reduced depending on the type of offence.
The National also said the most contentious prisoner is radical cleric Ahmad Al Assir, who was sentenced to death over deadly clashes between his supporters and the army in 2013, and it added that he is undergoing a retrial while parliament formally approved the abolition of the death penalty.
Backlash and Stakes
The amnesty law has faced backlash from family members of Lebanese soldiers and servicemen killed in attacks, who fear perpetrators could receive undue leniency, and Al Jazeera said Lebanese authorities did not immediately announce the number of people who would be freed.
“has faced backlash from some family members of Lebanese soldiers”
Amnesty International’s Heba Morayef said the abolition of the death penalty marks “a major milestone and a victory for human rights,” while also warning that justice must be rooted in human rights rather than “an irreversible and cruel punishment.”
The National reported that some Christian politicians said the amnesty law allows Lebanese who fled to Israel in 2000 after the Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon to return, but not those who fought alongside the Israelis.
In parallel, the BBC reported that Deputy Nabil Badr said reducing Ahmed Al-Aseer’s sentence before the military court could allow him to benefit later from a reduction of time served, noting this could open the door for his release within less than a year and a half if judicial efforts succeed.
