Over 33,000 prisoners released to free up jail space: Turkish justice minister

ANKARA

This file photo taken on November 02, 2012 shows a watchtower of the Sincan prison, outside Ankara. AFP photo

More than 33,000 prisoners were released as of Sept. 1, Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag has said, as the government looks to free up space in prison for suspects embroiled in the failed coup attempt case.

“As of yesterday evening, 33,838 prisoners and detainees were released,” Bozdağ said during a Sept. 2 meeting assessing the first 100 days of the government led by Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım.

He said those released had been jailed for minor offences.

According to two state of emergency decrees published in the Official Gazette on Aug. 17, Turkey would release a total of 38,000 prisoners, in a move to reduce its prison population to make space for thousands of people arrested as part of a probe into the July 15 coup attempt, believed to have been masterminded by the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ).

“The regulation is not an amnesty,” Bozdağ had stressed after the decrees were published, noting that those released would still be subject to control orders.