Death penalty bill for forest arsonists clears Algeria lower house
Summary
Algeria’s lower house of parliament has approved a law allowing the death penalty for people found guilty of arson, especially after deadly wildfires in the country. The law change now moves to the upper house before President Abdelmadjid Tebboune can officially approve it.Key Facts
- The National People’s Assembly in Algeria voted to allow the death penalty for arson that harms public security, national unity, or the environment.
- President Abdelmadjid Tebboune proposed this change after wildfires killed at least 12 people in northeast Algeria.
- Algeria has had a moratorium (pause) on the death penalty since 1993, meaning no one has been executed since then.
- Human rights groups opposed the law, saying it could be misused against political opponents and does not help prevent fires.
- Amnesty International said the government should focus on protecting lives and improving fire prevention, not increasing punishments.
- The justice minister argued that the death penalty is the right legal response to stop these crimes.
- Before this, some death sentences were given in cases related to terrorism but were not carried out due to the moratorium.
- After approval by the upper house, the law will need final signing by President Tebboune to take effect.
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