Iran has temporarily released more than 54,000 prisoners in an effort to combat the spread of the new coronavirus disease in crowded jails.
Judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili told reporters the inmates were allowed out of prison after testing negative for Covid-19 and posting bail.
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“Security prisoners” sentenced to more than five years will not be let out.”
Iran has had the highest number of deaths from coronavirus outside China, where it originated, and several officials have been infected – including the head of Iran’s emergency medical services, ILNA news agency reported on Tuesday.
Eight per cent of Iran’s parliament has been tested positive for coronavirus, according to a CNN report.
Lawmaker Abdul Reza Misri said 23 members of parliament have been infected, according to state TV-affiliated website YJC.
According to Iran’s deputy parliament speaker Abdul Reza Misri, 23 parliament members out of 290 have tested positive for the coronavirus, the report said, adding that meetings between lawmakers and citizens were cancelled in the wake of coronavirus outbreak in Iran.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday that Iranians should follow the recommendations of authorities to prevent the spread of coronavirus, as the deputy health minister reported more infections and a higher death toll of 77.
