Criminal Protection of Cultural Heritage in Algerian Legislation

This paper examines the criminal protection of Algeria's cultural heritage, focusing on the adequacy of legal provisions. Algeria’s cultural heritage, protected by the 2020 constitutional amendment (Article 76/3), is a non-renewable resource vital to its identity. The study reviews Law No. 98/04 and related laws, highlighting weak penalties and frequent violations, with impunity prevailing. Although crimes against cultural heritage are criminalized, the law lacks provisions on theft and smuggling, limiting its effectiveness. The paper concludes that stronger legal protection and harsher penalties are needed to address these challenges. Keywords: Cultural heritage; Algerian legislation; Criminal protection; Algeria