Algeria’s parliament has voted to introduce the death penalty for individuals convicted of intentionally starting forest fires, following a series of devastating blazes that caused significant loss of life and property across the country. The move, reported by US, is part of a broader expansion of capital punishment measures recently approved by the National People’s Assembly. According to Minister of the Interior Said Sayoud, the fires resulted in twelve deaths and extensive material damage.
Legislative Changes to the Penal Code
The newly approved legislation classifies the intentional burning of forests, agricultural land, and other areas as a capital offense. The legislation also mandates stricter penalties for those who willfully destroy public or private property under the guise of espionage, treason, or organized crime. The parliament also approved the death penalty for child abduction, specifically in cases involving torture or sexual abuse. The bill, which was advanced at the direction of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, also removes the possibility of sentence reductions or leniency for those convicted of these specific crimes. Before the changes take full effect, the legislation must pass through the Council of the Nation—the upper house of the Algerian parliament—and receive final ratification from the president.
Government Rationale Behind the Measures
Minister Boudjemaa stated that the fires reached the level of "organized crime," alleging that "foreign parties" were behind the incidents, though he did not provide evidence or identify specific actors. He described the expansion as "a suitable legal measure to address such crimes."
The legislative push follows a summer of intense heatwaves that triggered over one hundred fires, particularly in the northeast of the country. While the government officially reported 12 deaths resulting from the fires, the independent news outlet Take it estimated the death toll to be closer to 200, based on accounts from victims’ families.
Human Rights Concerns
Amnesty International stated that the government is moving in the "wrong direction" and urged authorities to focus instead on strengthening emergency response, prevention, and the protection of civilian lives. The organization characterized the expansion as a "setback."
While the death penalty has remained in the Algerian penal code, the country has maintained a de facto moratorium on executions since 1993. Although courts have continued to issue death sentences—primarily in terrorism-related cases—none have been carried out in over three decades. Amnesty International has specifically called on the Algerian parliament to reverse the expansion and maintain the existing moratorium.
Keep reading