Bahrain pardons hundreds of prisoners as coronavirus fears spread
While authorities have attributed the release to humanitarian reasons, human rights groups link the decision to efforts to contain the outbreak.
![GLOBAL-CITYSCAPES/ General view of Bahrain Seef district in Manama, Bahrain, June 20, 2019. Picture taken June 20, 2019. REUTERS/ Hamad I Mohammed - RC1A9E6ACA10](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2020/04/RTS2J1JN.jpg/RTS2J1JN.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=BotHsRiU)
As nations across the globe struggle with the spread of the novel coronavirus, Bahrain has ordered the release of hundreds of prisoners, part of a thinly veiled effort to contain the pandemic, rights groups contend.
On Thursday, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa issued a decree granting pardon for 901 prisoners. A further 585 inmates will serve out the rest of their sentences in rehabilitation and training programs, the state-run Bahrain news agency reported.