Lebanon’s parliament has enacted a comprehensive amnesty law designed to provide relief to thousands of incarcerated individuals and those facing legal proceedings. The measure, which secured approval through a show-of-hands vote on Wednesday, marks the first such legislation adopted since 1991. According to parliament officials, the law will selectively diminish prison sentences for qualifying individuals.
The amnesty initiative addresses a critical issue within Lebanon’s correctional system, which operates at severely overcapacity levels. Prison facilities reportedly held approximately 6,268 inmates by March, representing a 300 percent overcrowding rate. Under the new law, individuals convicted of capital offenses or serving life sentences will have their terms reduced to 17 prison years, equivalent to approximately 12 years and nine months of actual incarceration given Lebanon’s calculation methodology. Additionally, detainees who have awaited trial for more than 12 prison years without formal charges will be eligible for release.
The legislation emerged as a response to diverse political demands across Lebanon’s sectarian communities, ranging from cases linked to the Syrian conflict to drug-related convictions in regions known for cannabis cultivation. Some families of slain military personnel have expressed concerns regarding potential leniency for perpetrators. The passage of this amnesty law follows Lebanon’s recent abolition of capital punishment by the same legislative body.
Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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