Turkey: Prison release law leaves innocent and vulnerable prisoners at risk of COVID-19

Responding to the passing of a new law which is expected to allow for the early release of up to 100,000 prisoners in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, but fails to cover many others who should be considered for release, Amnesty International’s Turkey Campaigner, Milena Buyum, said:

“Whilst any steps to reduce the chronic overcrowding in Turkey’s prisons are welcome, it is deeply disappointing that the tens of thousands of prisoners in pretrial detention – a measure that must only be used when there are no alternatives to custody – will not be considered for release.

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/04/prison-release-law-leaves-prisoners-at-risk-of-covid/