Algeria Resumes Executions After 30 Years to Combat Drugs & Child Abduction
In a move described as bold and decisive, Algeria has decided to activate the death penalty after a moratorium of over three decades. This measure will apply to serious crimes as defined by the penal code, with a focus on cases of child abduction and drug trafficking within educational institutions. The announcement, made by the Public Prosecutor at the Bejaia Court of Justice, marks a significant shift in the country’s approach to crime.
A New Approach to Justice
The decision to resume executions, which were suspended in 1993, was announced during the opening of the judicial year. The Public Prosecutor stated that this action is part of a new policy aimed at confronting the rise in criminal activities and deterring those who commit crimes that threaten the safety of children and the community. This comes in response to growing concerns regarding the prevalence of such offenses.
Authorities, including Minister of Justice, Tayeb Louh, have emphasized the necessity of legal deterrence to safeguard society from alarming phenomena. The resumption of capital punishment has ignited extensive legal and ethical discussions, driven by increasing demands from the Algerian public and parliamentarians. They have repeatedly expressed their concern over the surge in heinous crimes that have shocked public opinion in recent years.
Legal and Social Implications
According to lawyer Fatima Zahra Toubida, the decision to resume executions is a firm step in addressing the wave of crimes threatening the Algerian family and social fabric. She notes a dramatic increase in drug-related cases, including the distribution of hallucinogenic pills among youth, especially in schools. Additionally, child abduction has become a significant concern for Algerian families, necessitating strict measures to restore the rule of law and deter criminals.
Toubida adds that the reintroduction of the death penalty is not just a punitive measure but also a step towards rebalancing justice and deterrence. It aims to protect human rights while ensuring the community’s right to safety, signaling that the state will not tolerate those who endanger citizens’ security and the future of generations.
The Impact on Education
Omar Ben Aouda, an expert in educational affairs, warns of the escalating issue of drug use and trafficking within Algerian schools, considering it a significant danger to the educational system. He explains that the school environment in Algeria faces major challenges, particularly the spread of drugs among students at a young age, posing educational, health, and social risks. The phenomenon is on an alarming upward trend, mirroring global patterns, which necessitates concerted official efforts to combat it. Algeria is making tangible efforts to counter this, enacting strict laws against traffickers and implementing deterrent punishments for offenders, reflecting a firm political will to address the rise in crime and restore the rule of law.
The Algerian public, having witnessed an increase in child abductions in recent years, is looking forward to a sense of security that will bring reassurance to their children. The decision follows Algeria’s suspension of the death penalty in 1993, after the execution of four Islamists involved in the bombing of Houari Boumediene Airport in Algiers in the summer of 1992.
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