The Turkish government says it will release around 38,000 prisoners as part of a penal reform announced on Wednesday.<br /><br /> The government has given no reason for the reform, which is part of a series of measures outlined in two state-of-emergency decrees.<br /><br /> The decrees, published in Turkey’s Official Gazette, also order the dismissal of:<br /><br /> 2,360 more police officers<br /><br /> More than 100 military personnel<br /><br /> 196 staff at Turkey’s ICT authority, BTK<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Why have they been dismissed?<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Those dismissed are described as having links to the US-based cleric, Fetullah Gulen.<br /><br /> Ankara has accused him of organising a coup on July 15 in which 240 people were killed.<br /><br /> Rogue troops commandeered tanks and jets in an attempt to overthrow the government.<br /><br /> Gulen denies involvement in the coup.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Who is eligible for release from prison?<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Convicts with up to two years left of their sentences are eligible for release on probation.<br /><br /> Previously, only those with one year left were eligible.<br /><br /> Prisoners must also have served half their sentences to be eligible. Previously, it was two-thirds.<br /><br /> The “supervised release” excludes those convicted of terrorism, murder, violent or sexual crimes.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Why is Turkey under a state of emergency?<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> It was brought in after the failed coup.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /> What is the context?<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> The arrests of tens of thousands of people suspected of links to last month’s attempted coup are burdening Turkey’s already overstretched jails.<br /><br /> Wednesday’s decree provides for the release of 38,000 people.<br /><br /> However, more than 35,000 have been detained since the July coup.<br /><br /> Tens of thousands of civil servants have been dismissed.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> BREAKING: Turkey issues decree to release 38,000 prisoners in apparent move to make space for coup plotters in jails.— The Associated Press (@AP) August 17, 2016<br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> What is the international response?<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Turkey’s Western allies worry President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is using the crackdown to target dissent.<br /><br /> What is Turkey’s response?<br /><br /> Turkish officials say they are rooting out a serious internal threat. <br /><br /> They have dismissed Western concerns.<br />
