Algeria faces calls to drop death penalty plans after wildfires

Rights group warns Algeria could exploit proposed death penalty laws to suppress domestic political opposition.

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Amnesty International has urged Algeria to abandon plans to expand the death penalty and resume executions, following presidential moves to make wildfire arson a capital crime.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the human rights organisation called for an immediate halt to President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s directives. Algeria has not carried out an execution in more than 30 years.

The push to broaden capital punishment sentencing gained momentum following devastating wildfires that killed at least 12 people and injured 54 others last month.

The flames wiped out entire villages across the Kabylie region and other parts of northeastern Algeria, the statement said.