Ahmad 
Two famous Algerian TikTokers burned banknotes during a birthday party, prompting authorities to intervene and angering Algerians.
The video shows the duo, Leili Mousta, who has around a million followers on TikTok, and Karim Birat, celebrating Karim’s birthday in the capital, where they placed banknotes on a birthday cake and set it on fire.
Algerians expressed their dissatisfaction with this behavior, considering it a disrespect for the difficult economic conditions that many people in the country are experiencing.
“At a time when many are struggling to find food, these people are seen burning money in celebration,” one commenter wrote online.
Security forces arrested the duo days after the video was posted, for violating Algerian law that punishes the destruction of money. This comes in the context of recent judicial proceedings in Algeria against influencers who committed legal errors.
Burning or destroying the national currency in Algeria is considered a crime punishable by law and falls under the Algerian Penal Code. It is also considered an insult to state symbols and the destruction of public money, and the penalty for this can reach several years in prison, depending on the size and circumstances of the crime.
The Algerian president expects national income to reach $400 billion by 2027