ISTANBUL, SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 – Turkish authorities have released more than 35,000 prisoners to free up space in its crowded facilities.A media report said on Wednesday in Istanbul that 7,450 convicted felons and 28,522 people awaiting sentencing have been released from prisons.
It said the release was aimed at concluding the official measures announced three weeks ago.
Turkish media have reported that prisons have become overcrowded amid a far-reaching government crackdown that has resulted in the arrests of thousands of citizens in the wake of a July 15 military coup.
It said under Turkey’s current state of emergency, authorities have passed measures allowing for about 38,000 people convicted before the coup to be released under certain conditions.
Prisoners convicted of serious crimes such as murder or rape were excluded from the measure.
