Turkey to release 38,000 from jail so as to free space for plotters
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Turkey issued a decree Wednesday paving the way for the conditional release of 38,000 prisoners, in an apparent move to reduce its prison population and thereby make space for the thousands of people arrested as part of an investigation into last month's failed coup.
The decree allows the release of inmates who have two years or less to serve of their prison terms and makes convicts who have served half of their prison term eligible for parole. It will not apply to prisoners convicted of murder, domestic violence, sexual abuse or terrorism and other crimes against the state.
Following the failed coup, tens of thousands of people suspected to be linked to the coup and its leaders have been suspended or dismissed from their jobs in the judiciary, media, education, health care, military and local government. The government crackdown has raised concerns among European nations and human rights organizations, who have urged the Turkish government to show restraint.
