In honor of Gadyr gijesi (Night of Omnipotence), which is celebrated on the 27th day of Muslim fasting, 1,402 convicts were pardoned in Turkmenistan. Among them – 1192 Turkmen citizens and 210 citizens of other States. The relevant Decrees were signed by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers today, the information program "Watan" of the Turkmen television reported.
According to the wording of the published document, this decision was made "guided by the principles of humanism, in order to further strengthen the unity and cohesion of the Turkmen society."
The pardoned are released from "further serving of the main sentence in the form of imprisonment, as well as from additional punishment in the form of imposing the duty of residence in a certain area."
The President of Turkmenistan instructed the heads of law enforcement agencies to take appropriate measures to ensure that those pardoned would soon be released from prison and able to return home to their families. The head of state also instructed the hyakims of velayats, etraps and cities, as well as other leaders to take care of the employment of pardoned citizens.
The night of Omnipotence, when, according to the canons of Islam, the first surahs of the Koran were sent down to the prophet Muhammad, is one of the most revered in the Muslim world. This year, the Night of Omnipotence falls on the night of May 19 to May 20.
Clemency actions have been practiced in Turkmenistan since 1999. Currently, they are held in the country 3-4 times a year and are timed to coincide with major public holidays. Last year, on May 30, 764 people were pardoned by a presidential decree in honor of the Muslim Night of omnipotence. On March 21, on the occasion of the international Novruz day, more than two thousand convicts were released from prison. On September 24, on the eve of the 28th anniversary of Turkmenistan's independence, 868 prisoners were released, and on December 6, in honor of the International day of neutrality, 528 prisoners were released.
