Justice Minister Adel Nassar said the government has raised several reservations over a proposed general amnesty law, as discussions continue in joint parliamentary committees reviewing the draft in full.

Speaking on Voice of Lebanon radio, Nassar said the bill remains under comprehensive review, with lawmakers examining all of its provisions, particularly its explanatory memorandum and the rationale behind the proposal.

He said the Ministry of Justice has formally submitted its observations, but stressed that the fundamental question of whether Lebanon should adopt a general amnesty law is a matter for Parliament, not the government.

Nassar noted that some countries do adopt amnesty laws in exceptional circumstances, but said such decisions are inherently political and must be addressed through parliamentary debate. He added that the issue should be evaluated on legal and objective grounds, given its wider political implications.

“The role of the Ministry of Justice is to provide its observations. However, debating the validity of the principle of a general amnesty law is not the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice, but rather of Parliament,” Nassar said.

The minister also addressed public criticism suggesting that delays in court proceedings, particularly in cases involving detainees, reflect failures within the judiciary. He rejected that view, saying the courts are performing their duties but are operating under significant pressure due to the large number of cases and ongoing crises, which have inevitably slowed judicial processes.

He pointed out that the number of judges remains limited compared to the growing caseload handled by courts.

Turning to judicial cooperation between Lebanon and Syria, Nassar said the existing treaty is similar to agreements Lebanon has signed with other countries. It allows individuals convicted in one country, such as Lebanon, to request transfer to their country of origin or another participating state, such as Syria, to serve the remainder of their sentence.