Death penalty bill for forest arsonists clears Algeria lower house
Human rights organisations accused Algiers of using the law to target political opposition groups.
Algerian lawmakers have approved a law that imposes the death penalty on individuals found guilty of forest arson. This comes in the wake of devastating wildfires that swept through the northeast of the country during the summer, resulting in at least 12 deaths, though witnesses suggest the toll may be much higher. Algeria had maintained a moratorium on the death penalty since 1993, but President Abdelmadjid Tebboune issued an order in August to amend the penal code to include capital punishment for a broader range of crimes.
The new legislation extends the death penalty to child kidnappings involving torture, sexual assault, or mutilation, as well as the deliberate burning of forests, woods, or planted or unplanted fields. Amnesty International has urged Algeria not to proceed with the law, deeming it a "deeply retrograde response" and advocating for efforts to protect lives, enhance prevention and emergency response instead.
The justice minister defended the tougher penalties, stating that the Algerian judicial system maintains safeguards for those facing the death penalty, including the opportunity for appeals or presidential pardons. The minister also claimed that the arson campaigns had reached "the level of organized crime," with investigations revealing ties to foreign parties.
The law will now undergo a review by the Senate before receiving final approval from President Tebboune. Forest fires are a recurring issue in northern Algeria during the summer, exacerbated by climate change through prolonged droughts and extreme heat. President Tebboune attributes the recent blazes to criminal activities rather than natural causes.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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