Justice Minister Confirms Enhanced Penal Code for Public Safety

The National Popular Assembly recently approved, by majority vote, an amended and supplemented penal code bill. This legislative measure introduces stricter provisions for intentional arson and child kidnapping, including the reinstatement of the death penalty for those involved in deliberate arson and the abduction or abuse of minors. This action directly implements directives issued by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who in August called for a review of the penal code to activate the death penalty for intentional arsonists and later, in September, expanded this mandate to include those who kidnap and abuse minors.

The amendment underscores a commitment to safeguarding individuals and property, addressing the human and material losses, as well as the anxiety these crimes cause families and citizens. It represents an institutional response to daily concerns regarding family security, children's safety, and property protection, all crucial elements for societal stability. Justice Minister and Keeper of the Seals, Lotfi Boumedjemaa, affirmed that the approval supports efforts to protect the community, highlighting that some intentional fires can target the economy, public and private property, and destabilize society, potentially linked to foreign instigation. The new provisions also extend to intentional burning of forests and fields, deliberate destruction of property linked to foreign parties (treason, espionage, organized crime), and acts affecting economic and environmental security.

Beyond property and economic security, the legislation significantly enhances the protection of children, establishing the death penalty for kidnappers, especially in cases involving torture, sexual assault, or abuse. The bill also explicitly removes any possibility of mitigating circumstances for those convicted of these severe arson and child-related offenses, further strengthening penal protections for vulnerable groups. While the death penalty is already present in Algerian legislation, its execution has been suspended since 1993; this new direction focuses on activating its implementation for these specifically defined crimes. The bill now proceeds to the Council of the Nation for final legislative steps before official issuance and publication, aiming to bolster deterrence and enhance the justice system's ability to protect the community.