Amnesty for 9,000 prisoners
The Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani parliament) on Tuesday
passed an amnesty bill submitted by First Lady MP Mehriban Aliyeva
on the eve of the Novruz Holiday.
Presenting the draft law, Ali Huseynov, the head of the standing parliamentary commission on legal policy and state building, said the amnesty act pertains to a total of 9,000 prisoners, which amounts to 35% of the overall number of inmates and 60% of all women jailed in the country. 1,700 prisoners, or 12% of all inmates will be released.
Addressing the legislature, the First Lady said the amnesty supported the humane policies of the national leader, former President Heydar Aliyev.
"Every adopted amnesty act is a triumph of the principles and ideas of humanism," Aliyeva said.
The amnesty bill was overwhelmingly passed without discussions by 111 votes, with one lawmaker voting against the measure.
The legislature earlier approved a similar bill initiated by Aliyeva in May 2007. The bill also covered about 9,000 prisoners, of whom 1,500 were pardoned.
Presenting the draft law, Ali Huseynov, the head of the standing parliamentary commission on legal policy and state building, said the amnesty act pertains to a total of 9,000 prisoners, which amounts to 35% of the overall number of inmates and 60% of all women jailed in the country. 1,700 prisoners, or 12% of all inmates will be released.
Addressing the legislature, the First Lady said the amnesty supported the humane policies of the national leader, former President Heydar Aliyev.
"Every adopted amnesty act is a triumph of the principles and ideas of humanism," Aliyeva said.
The amnesty bill was overwhelmingly passed without discussions by 111 votes, with one lawmaker voting against the measure.
The legislature earlier approved a similar bill initiated by Aliyeva in May 2007. The bill also covered about 9,000 prisoners, of whom 1,500 were pardoned.
Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention.
Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis.
By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more.
Subscribe
You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper
Thank you!