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Cuban government pardons 787 prisoners

Xinhua, November 16, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Cuban government has granted pardons to 787 inmates, state daily Granma reported on Tuesday.

"Cuba's Council of State, responding to a call made by Pope Francis in what he has designated the Year of Mercy, agreed to grant (the) pardons," the daily said.

Authorities took into consideration the events that "led to the convictions, conduct in prison and time served," and also granted humanitarian pardons to women, youth, ill inmates and others.

As in previous rounds of pardons, prisoners serving time for serious crimes, such as murder, corruption of minors, rape and drug trafficking, were ineligible.

In September 2015, Cuban President Raul Castro granted pardons to 3,522 inmates, including persons over 60 years of age, young people under 20 years of age and without a criminal record, people with chronic diseases, women, and those eligible for parole in 2016. Endi