Lebanon abolishes the death penalty, becoming the first Middle East country to formally end capital punishment after a historic parliamentary vote.

Lebanon’s parliament has voted to abolish the death penalty, formally ending capital punishment in the country and making it the first nation in the Middle East to take such a…

This is a locator map for Lebanon with its capital, Beirut. (AP Photo)

Moratorium on executions had already been in place for 22 years

The move comes as parliament debates a controversial general amnesty law amid overcrowded prisions