Iran Temporarily Releases 120,000 Prisoners to Prevent COVID-19 Spread

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] According to the semi-official Fars News Agency on the 29th (local time), Iran has temporarily released 120,000 prisoners since last year to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, the current head of Iran's judiciary and president-elect, said in a local media interview the day before, "We have temporarily released 120,000 prisoners to protect their lives and health amid the pandemic," adding, "This is a rare (human rights protection) case in the world."

He continued, "Any human rights activist can visit Iran's detention facilities to verify the human rights protection situation," emphasizing, "The judiciary is ready to open the prison doors for this purpose."

Raisi’s remarks are interpreted as a response to Western accusations of human rights violations by Iran's judiciary.

Previously, Amnesty International claimed that Raisi was part of the so-called 'Death Committee' that led the secret execution and disposal of thousands of imprisoned dissidents by the Iranian government in 1988.

Moreover, Amnesty criticized Raisi's judiciary for granting immunity related to illegal acts committed by the government and security forces during large-scale anti-government protests in Iran in November 2019. At that time, the Donald Trump administration in the U.S. also sanctioned Raisi, citing "cruel and inhuman measures such as executions for crimes committed during youth and torture of prisoners."

In a press conference on the 22nd, Raisi dismissed the controversy over repression of dissidents and human rights advocates, stating, "I have always defended human rights and social rights."

Raisi is set to begin his four-year term in August.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.