In a landmark change to Lebanon’s penal system, the country’s parliament on Tuesday approved legislation abolishing the death penalty, replacing it with life imprisonment with aggravated hard labour, the state-run National News Agency reported. The vote makes Lebanon the first Arab country to formally abolish the death penalty. Justice Minister Adel Nassar, who attended the parliamentary session, described the vote as a “historic step” for Lebanon. Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri opens the parliamentary session to discuss the abolition of the death penalty in Beirut, Lebanon, on Tuesday. Under the amended law, crimes committed before the legislation takes effect will be punished by life imprisonment, while offences committed after it takes effect will carry aggravated life imprisonment, according to NNA.