A majority of the 128 lawmakers voted in favor of abolishing the death penalty. The Hezbollah parliamentary bloc was the only faction to oppose the measure.

Lebanon’s Justice Minister Adel Nassar described the parliament’s decision as a «historic step» for the country.

Human rights organizations that had called for the formalization of the moratorium or the complete abolition of capital punishment have already welcomed the outcome of the vote.

The death penalty had formally remained part of Lebanese law for many years, although its use had effectively been suspended. The last execution in the country was carried out in 2004.