Lebanon’s parliament has formally approved a general amnesty law, a significant development following the repeal of the death penalty, a move that has ignited considerable debate and political maneuvering within the country. The legislation, passed Wednesday in a ‘show-of-hands’ vote, represents a protracted effort by numerous Lebanese political factions to address overcrowding and prison conditions. The office of the country’s parliament speaker stated that the law will ‘exceptionally’ reduce certain prison terms, with sentences reduced to 17 ‘prison years’ – equivalent to 12 years and nine months of actual imprisonment in Lebanon, where a prison year is calculated as nine months. The law also calls for the release of inmates in ongoing trials who have been detained for more than 12 prison years without charges, a practice that has been a long-standing concern among Lebanese authorities. According to Imad al-Hout, one of the lawmakers in favour of the bill, the law reduced the sentences of those facing death and life imprisonment to 17 ‘prison years’. This reduction is particularly significant given the 2024 fall of longtime Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, which prompted a surge in prisoner releases, many of whom are linked to events involving the Lebanese army, clashes, and bombings. The law’s origins trace back to the 2025 report by the country’s National Human Rights Commission, which documented an overcrowding rate of 300 percent within Lebanese prisons, with an estimated 6,268 inmates by the end of March. The pressure for general amnesty grew after the 2024 defeat of Hezbollah, a Shia political movement that has long advocated for amnesty for its communities. While most of those prisoners hail from Tripoli, a Sunni-majority city, and are accused of crimes including attacking the Lebanese army, participating in clashes, and planning bombings, other political forces, including Iran-backed Hezbollah, have been demanding amnesty for their communities. Thousands of families from the eastern Baalbek and Hermel regions, bastions of Hezbollah and its ally Amal, have been pushing for an amnesty law to include the families of those who joined an Israeli-backed group and fled to Israel after its withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000, fearing reprisals. Christian parties have also pushed for an amnesty law including the families of those who joined an Israeli-backed group and fled to Israel, particularly in the region of Lebanon. Deputy Walid Baarini praised the ‘long-awaited passage’ of the amnesty law and expressed hope it would mark “a new chapter” bringing justice to those who deserve it. He wrote in a post on X, “Amnesty is not forgetting a right, but rather prioritizing mercy and wisdom when they align with the requirements of justice and the national interest.” Prior to this, Lebanon had previously passed a general amnesty law in the wake of its 1975-90 civil war. The passage of the law follows a history of similar measures in Lebanon, reflecting a long-standing tradition of seeking to ease the burdens of imprisonment within the country.””, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Source: Al Jazeera
