Türkiye releases 38,000 prisoners due to prison overcrowding.

(Baonghean.vn) - Türkiye today (August 17) issued a decree paving the way for the release of 38,000 prisoners to "make room" for those arrested in connection with the July 15 coup attempt.

Turkish authorities arrested thousands of people suspected of involvement in the coup attempt on July 15. (Photo: CTV News)

The decree allows for the release of prisoners serving sentences of two years or less, and those who have served half of their sentence and meet the eligibility criteria for parole.

Prisoners convicted of murder, domestic violence, sexual abuse, terrorism, and crimes against the state will not be included in this list of those eligible for parole.

The decree also excludes those convicted after July 1st or prisoners arrested in connection with the July coup.

Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag affirmed that this was not an amnesty; the prisoners were temporarily released but would remain under house arrest.

Following the failed coup attempt, the Turkish government declared a state of emergency and launched a large-scale purge.

Approximately 35,000 people were detained for questioning, and over 17,000 of them were arrested, including soldiers, police officers, judges, and journalists.

Tens of thousands of people suspected of having links to cleric Gulen, who is accused of being behind the coup, have been suspended or fired from their jobs in the judiciary, media, education, healthcare, and military.

In another development, on August 17, Türkiye also issued two decrees dismissing more than 2,000 police officers, along with hundreds of military members and leaders of the BTK communications technology agency, for their involvement in last month's failed coup attempt.

Lam Vy

(According to AP)