Following a series of deadly wildfires in the northeastern region of Algeria, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has publicly advocated for the introduction of the death penalty for those found guilty of intentionally starting forest fires. The proposal comes in response to a recent wave of blazes that claimed the lives of at least 12 people and left 54 others injured.

The Algerian government has increasingly viewed forest fires as a significant national security threat, particularly as climate change and extreme heatwaves have exacerbated the frequency and intensity of such events in the Mediterranean region. While the country currently maintains a moratorium on executions, the President’s call signals a shift toward more punitive measures to deter arson. The proposal is expected to move through the legislative process, though it has already sparked internal debate regarding the effectiveness of capital punishment as a deterrent for environmental crimes. Supporters of the measure argue that the severity of the loss of life necessitates the harshest possible legal consequences, while critics suggest that focusing on infrastructure and fire management might be more effective than legal retribution.