Lebanon Passes Amnesty to Ease Prison Overcrowding

Lebanon's parliament has passed a long-awaited amnesty law intended to benefit thousands of prisoners and wanted individuals, the first legislation of its kind since 1991.

The measure is primarily aimed at easing prison overcrowding, where many detainees have been awaiting trial for years. Death sentences and life sentences will be reduced to 17 years in prison, equivalent to 12 years and nine months of actual imprisonment under Lebanon's system, where a prison year is calculated as nine months. People detained for more than 12 prison years without being charged are also to be released. Authorities have not yet disclosed how many people will be affected.

According to the National Human Rights Commission, prison overcrowding reached 300% in 2025. As of late March, at least 6,268 people were being held in Lebanese correctional facilities.

Debate over an amnesty intensified after the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2024, as the law also concerns Islamist prisoners linked to the Syrian civil war. Hezbollah and its ally Amal, as well as Christian parties, have pushed for their own demands.

(lemonde, bak)