54,000 Prisoners Released Due to the Coronavirus Epidemic

54,000 prisoners in Iran are probably pretty happy today about the coronavirus spreading so rapidly in the country. They have now been released to avoid further spread of the disease in the country’s overcrowded prisons.

The judiciary of Tehran has said that the prisoners were released only after tests proved they were not positive for the coronavirus, and once bail was posted. The release is also said to be temporary until the virus spread has been reduced. The judiciary has reassured the public that those convicted of more serious crimes and thus jailed for more than five years would not be released.

In total 3,513 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Iran, with 107 reported deaths to date.