Prison reform

Turkey's parliament ratified a penal reform bill early on April 14 aimed at reducing the sentences of thousands of prisoners, paving the way for their release in a bid to ease overcrowding and protect them from the coronavirus.

The bill was supported by 279 lawmakers in the 600-seat chamber while 51 voted against it.

Turkey's prisons are operating beyond capacity as the number of prisoners has witnessed a sharp rise in the past decade, according to figures from the country's Justice Ministry.

The Justice Ministry recently announced that there are 387 inmates in Turkey's prisons with serious illnesses. Of these inmates, 114 are suffering from cancer.

Did you know that more than 300 prisoners die every year in Turkey? Indeed, almost every day a coffin comes out of our prisons. They say it is fate, but it is not exactly like that...