Lebanon passes a controversial general amnesty law

BEIRUT -- Lebanon's parliament Wednesday passed a controversial general amnesty law, a day after a majority of legislators voted to formally abolish the death penalty.Lawmakers who backed the bill call it a beginning to correcting past overreach by the judiciary and security agencies and help reduce prison overcrowding, but critics say it is skewed and largely benefits Sunni Islamist prisoners.The initial proposal, debated since 2019, has exposed sectarian tensions among the country’s multitude of Islamic and Christian sects.The last time Lebanon approved a similar amnesty was in 1991, when the majority of the country’s combatants and militia leadership were absolved of any atrocities and possible war crimes following the country's devastating 1975-90 civil war that killed about 150,000 people and left 17,000 missing.The new law replaces death sentences with long prison terms, reduces life sentences, and frees some convicted militants and drug dealers. It excludes rape, trafficking, corruption, terror funding, and premeditated murder, but reduces sentences for killing Lebanese troops. Some detainees will be released immediately.Repeated drug offenders and Lebanese who have been con...