Amnesty International has called on Algeria’s authorities to immediately establish an official moratorium as a first step towards fully abolishing the death penalty.
The Organization call comes after Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune ordered last month the Minister of Justice to amend the Penal Code to “reintroduce” the death penalty for intentionally starting or instigating fires. He stressed that anyone sentenced to death would face execution as soon as they have exhausted their right of appeal.
Amnesty International urged Algeria’s authorities to immediately abandon any plans to expand the scope of the death penalty or resume executions after more than three decades without carrying one out.
The Human Rights Watchdog also called on the Algerian regime to adopt a human-rights centred response to the recent devastating wildfires, including by ensuring effective investigations into all factors that led to the tragic loss of life and accountability without resort to the death penalty.
“The devastation and loss of life caused by these fires is a profound tragedy and should spur the Algerian authorities into taking immediate steps focusing both on prevention and accountability. But walking back from over 30 years without executions is a deeply retrograde response that runs counter to respect for the right to life,” said Nadege Lahmar, Algeria Researcher.
“It is also at odd with Algeria’s international human rights obligations, in addition to its consistent support to UN General Assembly resolutions calling for a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty.”
Amnesty International deems death penalty as a violation of the right to life and the ultimate cruel, inhuman, and degrading punishment; which does not have a unique deterrent effect on crime and perpetuates a cycle of violence.
Amnesty International says wildfires should not be used to justify repression, noting that the Algerian government has not shared comprehensive figures of deaths and injuries from the fires.
While the Algerian authorities linked the July fires to a severe heatwave and previously described wildfires as a major risk and structural challenge exacerbated by climate change, the Algerian president pointed to the responsibility of criminal elements “attempting to weaken Algeria and undermine its unity”.
Between 26 July and 10 September, the authorities announced the detentions of 20 people pending investigations for arson and “subversion” – a terrorism-related charge punished by a mandatory death penalty. They claimed a supporter of the Movement for the Self-determination of Kabylie (MAK), a political opposition group which the Algerian authorities designated as “terrorist”, was among those detained.
