Turkey to Release 38,000 Prisoners Conditionally

Turkey will release approximately 38,000 individuals who were imprisoned before the recent failed coup in the country to create enough space for the detention of thousands arrested after the coup. According to a decree issued by the Turkish government on Wednesday, August 17, prisoners who have two years or less remaining in their sentences will be released conditionally. These prisoners must have served at least half of their sentence to qualify for release. Murderers, sexual offenders, terrorists, and those accused of actions against the state will not be included in this decree. Individuals arrested after July 2 of this year or in connection with events following the recent failed coup will also not be eligible for release. Following the failed coup in Turkey, which left 270 dead, thousands were detained in the country. Thousands of others in various administrative, judicial, and academic sectors have also been dismissed from their jobs. The Turkish government, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has identified a religious figure residing in the U.S., Fethullah Gülen, as the mastermind behind the failed coup and has requested his extradition from the United States. Mr. Gülen has denied his involvement in the coup, while also stating that Erdoğan's government is using the coup as a pretext to suppress its opponents and critics. The Turkish government's actions against opponents following last month's coup have raised concerns in the European Union, which has called for Ankara to respect the freedoms and legitimate rights of the people of this country.