Algeria's Lower House Passes Death Penalty Bill for Forest Arson

Algeria's lower house of parliament has approved a bill introducing the death penalty for people convicted of deliberately starting forest fires, according to a report by Al Jazeera.

Human rights organizations have accused the government in Algiers of using the legislation as a tool to target political opposition groups rather than solely to address arson, the report said.

Al Jazeera's report did not specify the bill's full legislative text or the timeline for its consideration by Algeria's upper house.

Algeria has experienced severe wildfires in recent years, and authorities have previously linked some blazes to arson, though rights groups have raised concerns about the government's use of security and criminal legislation against dissidents.