Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has ordered the reintroduction of the death penalty for arsonists found guilty of deliberately starting forest fires.
This follows devastating wave of wildfires in northeastern Algeria that killed at least 12 people and injured 54 others.
Tebboune has issued a directive to the Justice Minister to submit the proposed bill by September 15.
Investigators launched probes into suspected arson after videos showed multiple separate blazes starting simultaneously.
Although Algeria has maintained a de facto moratorium on carrying out executions since 1993, this new order marks a severe escalation from the previous maximum penalty of 30 years to life imprisonment for deliberate forest arson.
–ChannelAfrica–
