Turkish justice minister says to release 38,000 inmates "under supervision"

Turkish Minister of Justice Bekir Bozdag said on Wednesday that 38,000 people will be released from prison under supervision, local Hurriyet reported.

Those to be set free include inmates who displayed good behavior and who have two years or less to serve of their prison terms.

Prisoners convicted of murder, domestic violence, sexual abuse or crimes against the state are excluded, the minister said.

The new measures would not apply to crimes committed after July 1, thereby excluding anyone with suspected involvement in the July 15 coup attempt.

The minister said the move does not constitute a pardon or an amnesty but only a conditional release of prisoners.

Daily News said the move was an apparent attempt to reduce the country's prison population to make room for thousands of people who have been arrested as part of an investigation into last month's failed coup.

In another related development, two decrees issued on Wednesday dismissing more than 2,000 police officers and hundreds of members of the military and the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) over the coup bid.

The Turkish government declared a state of emergency and launched a massive crackdown on suspected supporters of Fethullah Gulen, a U.S.-based Muslim cleric who Ankara says masterminded the failed coup.

Around 26,000 people have been arrested. Tens of thousands more have been dismissed. Endit