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[POLITICS] · Algeria · 13 sources

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Part of situation: Southern Europe and North Africa wildfire and heatwave (23 clusters)

Algeria extends death penalty to forest arsonists

Algeria death penalty wildfires penal code arson

Algeria's lower house of parliament has approved amendments to the penal code that extend the death penalty to individuals convicted of intentional arson in forests, woods, or fields. The legislative move follows a series of devastating wildfires in the country's northeast during a severe summer heatwave.

In addition to arson, the new law expands capital punishment to include child abduction cases involving torture, sexual assault, or mutilation. Justice Minister Lotfi Boudjemaa defended the decision, stating that arson has reached the level of organized crime and that investigations suggest potential links to foreign parties.

While the death penalty remains in the Algerian penal code, the country has maintained a de facto moratorium on executions since 1993. The official death toll from the recent wildfires is reported as 12, though independent journalists and local reports suggest the figure could be as high as 200.

Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have criticized the expansion of capital punishment, describing it as a “deeply retrograde response.” Critics argue the government should focus on wildfire prevention and emergency response rather than reviving executions.

Entities

Abdelmadjid Tebboune · Algeria · Amnesty International · Lotfi Boudjemaa · National People’s Assembly · People's National Assembly · People’s National Assembly

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Sources

Algeria Death Penalty for Arson: What the Law Says [congotimes.com]
Αλγερία: Επεκτείνει τη θανατική ποινή σε εμπρηστές δασών | Ειδήσεις [patrapress.gr]
Αλγερία: Θανατική ποινή σε εμπρηστές δασών [tempo24.news]
ALGERIA INTRODUCES DEATH PENALTY FOR ARSONISTS AFTER DEADLY WILDFIRES [www.radiopacis.org]
Algeria Introduces Death Penalty for Forest Arsonists After Deadly Wildfires [world-today-journal.com]
Αλγερία: Το κοινοβούλιο επεκτείνει τη θανατική ποινή σε εμπρηστές δασών | Έμβολος [emvolos.gr]
Algeria lawmakers extend death penalty to forest arsonists [neweralive.na]
Algeria introduces death penalty for arsonists after deadly wildfires [www.gbcghanaonline.com]
Algeria approves death penalty for arson after deadly wildfires [thesudantimes.com]
Algérie: les auteurs de feux de forêts désormais passibles de la peine de mort [www.lesiteinfo.com]
Algerian lawmakers pass a bill restoring the death penalty for arson [www.newsday.com]
Algerije voert doodstraf in voor moedwillig aansteken bosbrand [nos.nl]
Death penalty bill for forest arsonists clears Algeria lower house [www.aljazeera.com]