Released criminals are behind child kidnapping in Algeria

Algerian human rights activists and sociologists called for the application of death penalty against child kidnappers and killers as it is stipulated by the Islamic law.

“New measures must be taken against people who have historical antecedents so that they would not perpetrate crimes once again after their release,” said lawyer Mounia Meslem.

“Child kidnapping and killing phenomenon is due to the emergence of a category of criminals who grew up in a criminal environment. Nothing can stop them. Because of that, they have gone to jail for many times. They resume criminal acts without thinking of consequences,” she added.

She believes that penal system in Algeria failed in dissuading criminals. Because of that, people who have historical antecedents must be put under surveillance as it is done in European countries.

“Experience and reality show that child murders in Algeria have historical antecedents in drug cases,” she said.

She added that drug addicts are ill people who must be treated before being punished. “The problem is that judges can not order to bring those addicts to treatment clinics because their number is not sufficient. Because of that, the State and judges should unify their efforts to end criminality.”

Representative of the Union of Algerian Lawyers Anouar Mustapha said laws are not correctly respected and death penalty must be applied. “The spreading of child murders shows that the Islamic law should be applied in terms of retribution. Judges must sentence those criminals to death.”

Professor in sociology at the University of Bouzareah Reda Ben Achour says the Algerian society’s vision about people who have historical antecedents as “heroes” increased murders.

“Society’s structure is behind child killings. According to the Algerian mentality, people who go to jail are brave men. Some families organize parties to celebrate the release of their sons,” he added.

“People who have historical antecedents are proud of themselves because everyone is afraid of them.”