Iran Temporarily Releases 70,000 Of Its Prisoners To Suppress The Spread Of COVID-19
JAKARTA - The Iranian government has decided to temporarily release about 70,000 of its prisoners. This was done to reduce the possibility of the COVID-19 outbreak in prisons.
This step was taken, after reports that a prisoner in an Iranian prison tested positive for the corona virus, on March 9, 2020. This decision was announced directly by the Head of Justice, Ebrahim Raisi, to temporarily free the prisoners.
Raisi said the release of prisoners would continue to a point where it did not create insecurity in society. Raisi, however, did not provide further details or specify when those released should return to prison.
"Recent reports show that the COVID-19 virus has spread inside Iranian prisons," Javaid Rehman, special rapporteur on human rights in Iran, said during the UN meeting in Geneva, Switzerland.
In addition, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei canceled a speech to celebrate the Persian new year in the city of Mashhad which was planned to be held on March 20. This is done so that not many people gather and reduce the transmission of COVID-19.
"The speech ceremony of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic revolution, which is carried out annually on the first day of the new year at (Imam Reza shrine) will not take place this year and the Supreme Leader will not travel to the holy shrine of Mashhad," said a statement on the official Ayatollah website. , adding the decision was based on recommendations from health officials to minimize travel and avoid large gatherings.
Iranian authorities also expressed concern over the possibility of the virus spreading further during Nowruz, the start of the Iranian new year. The new year is usually celebrated with holidays to various places around the country.
The Ministry of Health also appealed to the Iranian public to stay at home and impose travel restrictions between provinces. Despite warnings, authorities say traffic has been heavy in recent days on the northbound road to the Caspian Sea, a favorite holiday spot for Nowruz celebrations.
Recent reports indicate that there are 7,161 cases of COVID-19 in Iran. A total of 237 people were declared dead and 2,394 people were successfully cured.
Authorities have tried to limit the spread of COVID-19 by closing schools and urging the public not to travel. However, Iran has not implemented city lockdowns, as has been done in Wuhan, China and Italy.
Tehran was the worst hit city with the virus with 1,945 cases, followed by Qom with 712, Mazandaran with 633, Isfahan with 601, and Gilan with 524.
Many countries have confirmed that their countries have found cases of COVID-19 originating from people who had previously visited Iran. These countries are Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.