The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) announced today that it has tabled a bill to temporarily release some 45.000 detainees to prevent the new coronavirus from spreading to prisons.
A separate reform included in the bill tabled by the AKP and its allies in parliament provides for the permanent release of another 45.000 prisoners.
There are about 300.000 inmates in crowded prisons in Turkey.
The government is working on reforms to ease the pressure on the system, and human rights groups say the virus could easily spread to prisons.
The bill is being tabled as the number of cases in Turkey rose to 10.827 yesterday, while the death toll rose to 168.
Detainees who have served half of their sentences will be eligible for release under the plan, Cahit Ozkan, a lawmaker from President Tayyip Erdogan's party, told reporters.
The law will exclude those convicted of crimes related to terrorism, drugs, sexual offenses, homicide and violence against women.
Those who will be temporarily released under the law will be transferred from open prisons to house arrest, Ozkan said, noting that the debate on the bill in Parliament will begin next Tuesday.
The house arrest will also apply to prisoners over the age of 65 and women caring for children under the age of 6, the MP pointed out.
The AKP and its ally, the nationalist MHP, drafted the bill and have a majority in the 600-seat Turkish National Assembly to approve it.
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