Govt to release 38,000 jailed for pre-coup crimes

Turkey is to release conditionally 38,000 prisoners jailed before last month’s failed coup, while its jails are crowded with new detainees. Some 23,000 people have been detained or arrested since the July coup, although the government has not said its move is to free up space for them. The justice minister said those who had […]

Turkey is to release conditionally 38,000 prisoners jailed before last month’s failed coup, while its jails are crowded with new detainees.
Some 23,000 people have been detained or arrested since the July coup, although the government has not said its move is to free up space for them.
The justice minister said those who had served half their sentence, rather than two-thirds, would be eligible.
Crimes such as murder and sex abuse would be excluded, he said.
Some 187,000 people were being held in Turkey’s 364 prisons this year, according to figures published in March by Turkey’s justice ministry (in Turkish). That figure was already 4,000 higher than the capacity and the recent detentions have placed the system under extra strain.