Iran temporarily frees 85,000 prisoners amid coronavirus scare

As death toll due to coronavirus reaches more than 988 in Iran, Islamic Republic’s judiciary spokesperson said on March 17 that it has temporarily freed at least 85,000 prisoners including political detainees in wake of pandemic. fatal virus which h originated in China in December 2019, has also infected more than 16,000 people in Iran, making it one of worst national outbreaks outside mainland. 

According to reports, judiciary spokesperson Gholamhossein Esmaili has also said that only prisoners who were serving sentences less than five years have been freed, while political leers and ors who were jailed for charges linked to participation in anti-government protests are still serving sentence. He also said that even in order to contain drastic spre of COVID-19, precautions have also been taken in jail. Moreover, Esmail has reportedly t mentioned when will prisoners return to jail. 

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UN asked Iran to free prisoners

According to reports, Special Rapporteur of United Nations in Iran, Javaid Rehman h asked Tehran on March 10 to release all its political prisoners temporarily from its overcrowded and disease-ridden jails in order to contain spre of coronavirus. In past days, according to activists and rights groups, Iranian authorities released at least a dozen political prisoners. However, prominent political prisoners still remain in jail. 

Moreover, even United States h said that it would hold directly responsible for any American deaths in jail and h called for release of dozens of dual nationals and foreigners held mainly for spying. Moreover, cleric rulers in Iran have also rejected to lock down major cities even as death toll is rising by day. However, y have urged Iranians to limit travel ahe of New Year on March 20. 

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World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared coronavirus as a global pandemic after virus spre to more than 162 countries, resulting in deaths of more than 7,100 people worldwide. WHO chief Tedros ham furr even urged all nations to get very serious over issue and take all necessary measures to contain virus from spreing at this rate. Tedros said, that word 'Pandemic' cant be used lightly or carelessly due to its strong contation. 
 
However, Tedros also said that coronavirus outbreak is a "controllable pandemic". According to a statement released by World Health Organisation, Tedros outlined two main reasons as to why decision was taken to describe epidemic as a pandemic. Tedros said that one reason was speed and scale of transmission and ors was because 'countries are t approaching this threat with level of political commitment needed to control it'.

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(With ncy inputs)