Lawmakers Expand Death Penalty for Grave Offenses

The Algerian National Popular Assembly has adopted significant amendments to the Penal Code with an overwhelming majority vote, introducing the death penalty for perpetrators of certain severe crimes. This legislative measure aims to bolster national security and public order, directly responding to recent challenges and aligning with presidential directives to enhance the protection of citizens.

Among the serious offenses now subject to the death penalty are intentional arson of forests and fields, as well as the deliberate destruction of public and private property. This also extends to acts committed for the benefit of foreign parties within the framework of treason, intelligence operations, or organized crime, and attempts to undermine national security, public order, national unity, or economic and environmental stability.

The amended Penal Code further strengthens the penal protection of children by stipulating the death penalty for those found guilty of child kidnapping, regardless of the method used. The severity of the punishment is increased when the crime is accompanied by acts of torture, sexual aggression, or other forms of abuse, reflecting a firm stance against the resurgence of such heinous crimes in recent years. Importantly, individuals convicted of these acts will not benefit from any attenuating circumstances provided by the Penal Code.

This exceptional legislative step, which President Abdelmadjid Tebboune championed, serves as a direct response to ecological and human catastrophes witnessed by the country. The comprehensive amendments underscore Algeria's commitment to implementing robust legal frameworks to safeguard its citizens and critical infrastructure from serious criminal acts.