Stories
Algeria Reinstates Death Penalty for Arson After Deadly Wildfires
- •Algerian lawmakers passed a bill reintroducing the death penalty for arson, following devastating wildfires this summer.
- •The bill, which also makes child abduction a capital offense, passed 307-17 with seven abstentions.
- •President Abdelmadjid Tebboune had previously warned that those responsible for the fires would face the death penalty.
- •Algeria has not carried out an execution since 1993, despite courts continuing to impose death sentences.
- •The bill received support from conservatives and Islamists but was criticized by international organizations like Amnesty International.
Key Questions Answered
Lawmakers passed the bill following devastating wildfires that swept across the country during the summer, resulting in an official death toll of 12. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune had previously warned that individuals responsible for these fires would face the death penalty.
Algeria has maintained a moratorium on executions since 1993, which was the year the country last carried out executions involving three Islamic militants convicted over a bloody attack at Algiers International Airport. Although courts have continued to impose death sentences, no executions have been performed since that time.
In addition to arson, the newly passed bill makes child abduction a capital offense. Justice Minister Lotfi Boudjemaa stated that the adoption of the death penalty for these acts serves as the appropriate legal response to eradicate such crimes.
