President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has said Algeria will not reverse its Tinzrouft prison policy for major drug traffickers or the death-penalty measures he linked to forest arson and child kidnapping, according to remarks reported by Ennahar Online.
Speaking during a meeting with the national press, Tebboune reiterated his position on the measures as part of the authorities’ response to serious crime. The source did not provide details on their legal implementation, procedural status or timetable.
Tebboune Defends Tinzrouft Prison Policy
Tebboune said there would be no retreat from the decision to designate Tinzrouft prison for major drug traffickers. Ennahar’s original report used the term “drug barons” in describing the people targeted by the measure.
He also said there would be no reversal of the death-penalty measure for perpetrators of forest fires and child kidnappings.
The president defended the position by pointing to other countries that retain capital punishment. He cited the United States and questioned whether the existence of the death penalty there meant the country could be considered undemocratic.
Tebboune framed the recent measures as necessary to protect Algerian citizens and the country. “Our recent decisions against crime are to protect the citizen and the country from a major war that has been launched against us,” he said, according to the source.
The reference to a “major war” reflects Tebboune’s characterization of the security challenge rather than an independently established description of the situation.
Ennahar Online’s report did not include the underlying legal text for the measures, information on when they would take effect, or further details about how they would be applied.
Sami B. is the founder and editor of Algeria News Gate, an independent English-language platform covering Algeria’s political, economic, and business developments. Based in Europe, he reports on official announcements, economic trends, and international relations involving Algeria.