Iran releases 70,000 prisoners due to coronavirus, judiciary chief says
The total number of persons infected with coronavirus in Iran has risen to 7,161 as officials scramble to respond to the spread of the virus.
As the number of coronavirus cases steadily climbs in Iran, the country has released roughly 70,000 prisoners in a bid to combat the virus, the country's judiciary chief said Monday.
“The release of the prisoners, to the point where it doesn’t create insecurity in society … will continue,” said Ebrahim Raisi, according to Mizan, the judiciary's news site.
Raisi didn’t say if or when the newly released prisoners would need to return to jail.
Iran, the epicenter of outbreak in the Middle East, reported 43 new coronavirus deaths March 9. Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour announced there were 595 new cases across the country, bringing the total number of infected persons in Iran to 7,161.
