Thursday, November 3, 2011

Gaza: 180 prisoners to be released on Eid al-Adha

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- The government in Gaza will release 180 prisoners for the Eid al-Adha holiday, the interior minister said Thursday.

Fathi Hammad said 120 of the prisoners will be returned to jail after the holiday, which starts on Sunday subject to lunar sighting.

The minister in the Hamas-led government said his ministry would coordinate with the attorney-general in Gaza to clear the criminal records of the 60 prisoners whose sentences will be reduced.

"In the recent years and with every holy occasion, the Interior Ministry has released a number of people from rehabilitation centers who had good behavior and reputation while they were in prison," a ministry statement said.

The decision to release prisoners was made to reduce the suffering of their families and to give them a chance to start fresh and an opportunity to serve the community, the ministry added.

The ministry said there were no prisoners held for their political affiliation in the Hamas-run enclave, and urged Fatah leader and President Mahmoud Abbas and his security forces to release all prisoners held by the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.

Hamas and Fatah signed a reconciliation agreement in May to end years of bitter rivalry. Under the deal, both factions agreed to release all political prisoners.

Gaza: 180 prisoners to be released on Eid al-Adha

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