Algeria president seeks death penalty for arsonists after deadly forest fires
Algeria is considering tougher legal sanctions against people found responsible for starting forest fires, following a wave of wildfires that swept through parts of the country and claimed dozens of lives.
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has instructed the Justice Ministry to prepare amendments that would allow courts to impose the death penalty on individuals convicted of deliberately igniting fires in forested areas. The proposed changes come amid growing concern over the scale of destruction caused by recent blazes in northern Algeria.
Although capital punishment remains part of Algeria’s legal framework, the country has not carried out an execution in more than three decades. Current legislation already provides severe penalties for arson, including lengthy prison terms and, in some circumstances, life imprisonment.
The latest fires, which erupted during an intense heatwave across North Africa, damaged homes, displaced residents and left emergency services battling multiple outbreaks simultaneously. Authorities have largely brought the situation under control, but investigations are continuing into the causes of the fires.
While the government has confirmed a death toll of 12, independent reports have suggested the number of fatalities may be significantly higher. Journalists and local observers compiling information from families and local communities have claimed that the human cost could far exceed official figures.
Tebboune has said investigators will determine whether criminal activity contributed to the disaster, noting that the scale and intensity of some of the fires raised questions that require further examination.
The president has also directed state institutions to provide compensation for affected families and support the reconstruction of damaged homes and public infrastructure. Assessments are underway to determine the full extent of losses suffered by communities hit by the fires.
Algeria experiences wildfires almost every year during the hot summer season, but environmental experts have repeatedly warned that rising temperatures and prolonged heatwaves linked to climate change are increasing both the frequency and severity of such disasters across the region.
Source: BBC
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