Turkey shifting to open prisons amid jail overcrowding
Turkey says prisoners serving lighter sentences would be transferred to open prisons amid reports of jail overcrowding since Ankara began its crackdown in the wake of the failed coup of July 2016.
Turkey’s Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Friday that “there is some overcrowding due to the fight against terror,” adding that major crimes such as terrorism, organized crime or child abuse, would be excluded from the reassignment policy.
He said the prisoners would not be granted amnesty, and the length of the jail sentence would not change.
On February 22, the Turkish Ministry of Justice revised its regulation, allowing for convicts with sentences shorter than 10 years who achieve at least one month of good behavior to be reassigned to more comfortable open prisons.
Ankara has so far arrested over 41,000 people and sacked more than 100,000 others, including military personnel, judges, and teachers, over suspected links to US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen as part of the post-coup crackdown. Many rights groups have denounced Ankara’s heavy clampdown.
Gulen has censured the coup attempt and strongly denied any involvement in the violence. Turkey remains in a state of emergency since the coup.
BRICS offers Turkey partner status, says Turkish minister
Erdogan claims Turkey has 'severed all ties' with Israel
Iran, Russia, Turkey condemn Israeli atrocities in West Asia
VIDEO | Allameh Tabataba’i remembered as pioneer of Iran’s philosophy, culture
Iran's defense chief in Syria for key military talks
Iran’s exports up 21.4% y/y in October to nearly $6.771bn
10 killed as Israel bombs school housing displaced in Gaza: Medics
US support for Israel fuels settler violence in West Bank: Presidency
VIDEO | Pro-Palestine rally in Seoul echoes UN concern over Gaza
VIDEO | Communities in Australia raise funds for Gaza, Lebanon relief
Euro-Med documents Israel's extrajudicial executions of Palestinians
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
