Algeria: President Tebboune Orders Penal Code Amendment to Introduce Death Penalty With Immediate Execution

What the report says

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has ordered a swift amendment to the country’s Penal Code to introduce the death penalty, with immediate execution, for people accused of deliberately starting fires. According to Algerie Presse Service, the directive was issued during a meeting at the presidency in Algiers focused on the aftermath of recent wildfires that struck several eastern and central provinces.

The president instructed the justice ministry to prepare the legal changes before Sept. 15, and said the proposal should first go to the government this week before reaching parliament’s lower house. He also told provincial governors in the affected areas to share relevant information with security services. The report says authorities have already arrested some people linked to the blazes.

Beyond the criminal-law move, Tebboune also outlined a broader response to the fires. He ordered assessments of damage, compensation for residents, and urgent rehousing for displaced families. He said key utilities, including water, gas, electricity and telecommunications, should be restored quickly, and called for a study of building standards in forested areas to reduce future risk.

The announcement underscores how seriously Algerian authorities are treating the wildfire emergency and raises the possibility of tougher penalties for arson. In general, death-penalty proposals are often politically and legally sensitive, especially when tied to emergency responses and public safety concerns.