Amended Penal Code Enhances Sanctions, Targets Grave Crimes
Algeria's Official Gazette No. 72, published on October 13, 2026, has officially issued Law No. 26-13, which amends and supplements Penal Code Ordinance No. 66-156. Signed by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, this legislative update introduces stringent provisions, notably expanding the application of the death penalty for perpetrators of particularly grave offenses, reflecting a commitment to strengthening law and order across the nation.
The revised Penal Code targets critical areas of public safety, specifically implementing the death penalty for child kidnapping under Article 291. This severe punishment applies regardless of whether the act involves torture, sexual assault, or mutilation of the victim, with no provision for mitigating circumstances for those convicted of these specific crimes. Additionally, the law now mandates the death penalty for individuals who intentionally set fire to forests, fields, trees, or wood stacks located within forested areas, as detailed in Article 395 bis.
Further strengthening national security, the amended code extends capital punishment to acts of intentional arson targeting any public or private property if committed with instigation from or for the benefit of a foreign state or party, or as part of treason, espionage, or organized criminal activity. This also covers acts aimed at undermining public security, national unity, institutional stability, the national economy, or causing environmental damage, as outlined in Article 396 bis 1. The law further stipulates the death penalty for those who incite, encourage, fund, arrange, or facilitate these destructive acts, including through information and communication technologies.
These significant amendments, which were approved by both houses of Parliament, underscore Algeria's efforts to combat various forms of crime and enhance societal protection, particularly for children. The Minister of Justice affirmed that these modifications are part of a broader strategy to address dangerous acts against persons and property, following severe incidents such as widespread fires, demonstrating a firm stance against serious criminal activity.
