With a COVID-19 outbreak now confirmed in Turkey’s prisons, the country’s parliament has approved a new law that would relax sentencing requirements and reduce the prison population by nearly a third, despite criticism that inmates held on terrorism charges will not eligible for early release. 

Backed by Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party and the allied Nationalist Movement Party, which together hold a majority in the 600-seat parliament, the bill passed with 279 votes in favor and 51 against. 

The legislation, which temporarily or permanently releases about 90,000 inmates, will now go to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for approval. Under the bill, those eligible for house arrest will remain at home until May 31. The justice minister can extend that period three times by a maximum of two months each if the coronavirus crisis continues. 

The legislation excluded tens of thousands of political prisoners jailed on terrorism charges for alleged ties to the banned Kurdistan Workers Party or the Fethullah Gülen movement, which the government blames for an attempted coup in 2016.