Lebanon’s Parliament approved on Wednesday a bill granting a general amnesty and exceptionally reducing certain sentences, following several attempts to pass it since May amid political disagreements.

The law comes amid severe overcrowding in prisons and calls to address the situation of detainees who have not been convicted.

MP Imad al-Hout said 79 of 146 Islamist detainees would be released from prison under the law.

Lawmakers from the Strong Lebanon bloc and Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc withdrew from the session in protest at the defense minister’s failure to enter the chamber to deliver the army’s statement on the bill.