Capital Punishment Mandated for Intentional Arson, Child Abduction

Algeria's People's National Assembly has approved a new law introducing the death penalty for individuals convicted of intentionally setting fires in forests or fields, and for those found guilty of child abduction. The legislative action follows a series of deadly wildfires that impacted parts of the country, including over 100 fires that erupted in the northeast amidst a severe heatwave. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune previously directed the Ministry of Justice to introduce these amendments to the penal code, underscoring the nation's commitment to protecting its natural resources and citizens.

Under the new provisions, the death penalty specifically targets intentional arson of forests, bushes, or fields. It also extends to cases of child abduction associated with torture, sexual assault, or mutilation. Justice Minister Lotfi Boujemaa stated before parliament that the approval of capital punishment for these offenses constitutes an "appropriate legal response" to such criminal acts. The Minister highlighted that intentional arson had reached the level of "organized crime," with investigations indicating connections to "foreign parties" aiming to destabilize the country's security and impact its economy.

The strengthened penalties aim to safeguard the national economy, protect property, and ensure societal stability, addressing evolving methods of perpetrating these crimes, particularly when incited by external actors. While the death penalty is already part of Algeria's penal code for certain offenses, no executions have been carried out since 1993. The draft law is now slated for consideration by the Council of the Nation, the upper house of parliament, before its official ratification by the President of the Republic.