Iran has temporarily freed
about 85,000 prisoners, including political prisoners in response to the
coronavirus epidemic, a judiciary spokesman said on Tuesday,
about 85,000 prisoners, including political prisoners in response to the
coronavirus epidemic, a judiciary spokesman said on Tuesday,
The death toll in Iran from the
coronavirus has reached 853 and a total of 14,991 people have been confirmed
infected across the country, one of the worst national outbreaks outside China,
where the new virus originated.
coronavirus has reached 853 and a total of 14,991 people have been confirmed
infected across the country, one of the worst national outbreaks outside China,
where the new virus originated.
“Some 50% of those released are
security-related prisoners. Also in the jails, we have taken precautionary
measures to confront the outbreak,” spokesman Gholam Hussein Esmaili said.
security-related prisoners. Also in the jails, we have taken precautionary
measures to confront the outbreak,” spokesman Gholam Hussein Esmaili said.
He did not elaborate on when
those released would have to return to jail.
those released would have to return to jail.
On March 10, the U.N. Special
Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, Javaid Rehman, said he had asked Tehran to
free all political prisoners temporarily from its overcrowded and
disease-ridden jails to help stem the spread of coronavirus.
Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, Javaid Rehman, said he had asked Tehran to
free all political prisoners temporarily from its overcrowded and
disease-ridden jails to help stem the spread of coronavirus.
Many Iranians have ignored
calls by the health authorities to stay at home but the establishment have
closed the country’s holy Shi’ite Muslim sites and shrines in Tehran and Qom,
the epicentre of Iran’s coronavirus outbreak.
calls by the health authorities to stay at home but the establishment have
closed the country’s holy Shi’ite Muslim sites and shrines in Tehran and Qom,
the epicentre of Iran’s coronavirus outbreak.
Officials have blamed the U.S.
sanctions, reimposed on Tehran since Washington quit Iran’s 2015 nuclear
agreement with six powers, for hampering Tehran’s fight against the
coronavirus.
sanctions, reimposed on Tehran since Washington quit Iran’s 2015 nuclear
agreement with six powers, for hampering Tehran’s fight against the
coronavirus.
Tehran has called on other
countries to back its call for the lifting of U.S. sanctions. Sources told Reuters
on Monday that Washington was unlikely to ease sanctions on Iran despite an
appeal from China that it does so because of the coronavirus pandemic.
countries to back its call for the lifting of U.S. sanctions. Sources told Reuters
on Monday that Washington was unlikely to ease sanctions on Iran despite an
appeal from China that it does so because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Last week, Iran said it had
asked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for $5 billion in emergency funding
to combat the outbreak.
asked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for $5 billion in emergency funding
to combat the outbreak.
