Algeria to amend penal code to apply death penalty on child kidnappers

Algeria’s penal code will be discussed and amended in a cabinet meeting expected to be held on Wednesday to step up punishment measures against violent acts and kidnappings, interior minister Dahou Ould Kablia said.

The minister told Echorouk he is for the application of death penalty against child kidnappers.

“The penal code will be added to the forthcoming cabinet meeting agenda due to be held next week. It will come up with stricter punishment regarding kidnappings. There are legal vacuums in laws including the absence of sexual assault cases in kidnappings,” he said.

“The article about the application of death penalty has never been dropped although it was frozen,” he added.

The government set up a working group which includes representatives of health, justice, education, family, sports, the Gendarmerie and the police sector. They will work on detecting psychological and social reasons behind child kidnapping and suggesting solutions.

According to Ould Kablia, 204 children including 170 girls were kidnapped in Algeria in 2012 compared to 221 including 169 girls in 2011.  A total of 30 children were kidnapped in January-Marche. Of them, 4 were killed.

Analyses show that kidnappers raped the children as some of them were pedophiles and have historical antecedents. Few kidnapping cases were due to family conflicts, revenge or ransom.

Speaking about security situation, the minister said new measures were taken to ensure the safety of foreign workers in Algeria. Surveillance was stepped up on borders and some of them were closed as some neighboring countries were dangerous for Algeria’s security.