Politics · Other · 12 hrs ago
Rights groups urge Algeria to reverse expansion of death penalty
After major wildfires in northeastern Algeria in August 2026, the government expanded death-eligible crimes through changes to the penal code.
The changes cover setting forests and fields on fire even when nobody dies, certain cases of burning property, and child abduction involving abuse.
They also cover encouraging these acts, including online, and remove the possibility of lighter sentences.
Fifteen rights groups are calling for the changes to be reversed and for Algeria to keep its halt on executions, in place since 1993.
They say unclear wording about online encouragement could be used to punish speech and that the law conflicts with Algeria’s international obligations.
The groups warn that executions could cause irreversible miscarriages of justice and discourage people from criticizing how authorities handle crises.
They urge the government to stop issuing death sentences, reduce existing ones, and work toward abolishing capital punishment.
Fifteen rights organizations urged Algeria to repeal legal changes that expand the use of the death penalty and to abandon plans to resume executions.
The changes add several offences, including setting fires in forests and fields even when no one is killed, and child kidnapping accompanied by abuse.
They also make the death penalty mandatory for covered offences and include incitement or encouragement online.
The organizations say the changes were passed quickly without public debate or consultation with civil society.
They warn that vague wording could restrict expression and that the expanded penalties conflict with Algeria’s international obligations.
- Who
- Fifteen rights organizations, including Amnesty International and MENA Rights Group.
- What
- They called on Algeria to repeal provisions expanding the death penalty and to maintain the longstanding halt on executions.
- When
- The joint statement was published on October 22, 2026.
- Where
- Algeria.
- Why
- The organizations say the new provisions exceed international limits on use of the death penalty and could chill free expression.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Wildfires swept through northeastern Algeria, particularly Jijel, Béjaïa and Tizi Ouzou.
The president ordered a review of the Penal Code and said people convicted of arson would be executed after appeals were exhausted.
The People’s National Assembly approved the amendment on October 1, followed by the Council of the Nation on October 7.
The amendment was published in the Official Gazette.
Rights organizations issued a joint call for Algeria to reverse the expansion and not resume executions.
- Signatories
- 15 rights organizations
- Petition
- More than 770 signatures, including 35 non-governmental organizations
- Last execution
- 1993
- Parliamentary approval
- October 1 by the People’s National Assembly; October 7 by the Council of the Nation
- Official publication
- October 13, 2026
3 sources
What people are saying
A crushing blow to human rights, and it also conflicts with Algeria’s international obligations
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🟧 #الجزائر: 15 منظمة حقوقية تدعو إلى إلغاء توسيع نطاق عقوبة الإعدام والتراجع عن استئناف تنفيذها 🔸في بيان مشترك وقّعت عليه 15 منظمة حقوقية، أدانت المنظمات التعديلات الأخيرة على قانون العقوبات الجزائري، التي وسّعت نطاق الجرائم المعاقب عليها بالإعدام، وحذّرت من التصريحات الرسمية
🛑عقب 33 عاما على تنفيذ آخر حكم إعدام .. القضاء الجزائري 🇩🇿يصدر أول حكم بالإعدام بعد تعديل قانون العقوبات ! 🛑مجلس قضاء الجزائر : صدور أول أحكام بالإعدام طبقا للقانون25-03 الصادر في 1جويلية 2025 المتعلق بالوقاية من المخـ ـدرات والمؤثرات العقـ ـلية وقمع الاستعمال والاتجار غير
#عقوبة_الإعدام هذا الأسبوع، وبينما كانت الحكومة الجزائرية تعرض مشروع قانون ينص على تطبيق عقوبة الإعدام على جرائم الحرق العمد والإساءة إلى الأطفال، كررنا دعواتنا للسلطات للتخلّي عن أي خطط لتوسيع نطاق تطبيق عقوبة الإعدام واستئناف عمليات الإعدام في الدورة العادية الثالثة والستين