La panique morale au cœur du débat sur la peine de mort en Algérie

Abstract

This article discusses how the debate on the death penalty is approached in Algeria, based on media controversy over child abduction cases. Our work is built around the «moral panic» generated by the extent of media coverage of these abduction cases. It shows how this has led not only to a review of a 1993 decision suspending the execution of the death penalty, but also to a demand by the ulemas, the associations and the media to apply the death penalty in cases involving the kidnapping of children. This debate has generated a confrontation of ideas between abolitionists and human rights defenders on the one hand and death penalty advocates on the other.

Keywords

• Algeria
• death penalty
• moral panic
• kidnapping
• medias