Algeria urged to abandon death penalty proposal amid wildfire crisis

A human‑rights organization has cautioned that Algeria’s draft legislation expanding the use of the death penalty could be leveraged to curb domestic political dissent. The proposal, which broadens capital‑punishment provisions to include offenses such as “acts threatening national security” and “terrorism‑related activities,” has drawn scrutiny from the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), which warned that the vague language may enable authorities to target opposition figures and activists under the guise of security measures.

The federation highlighted a pattern of increasingly restrictive measures in Algeria, noting recent arrests of journalists and members of civil‑society groups critical of the government. It urged Algerian lawmakers to ensure that any amendments comply with international human‑rights standards and called on the international community to monitor the law’s implementation to prevent its misuse against political opponents.