Turkey says to release 38,000 prisoners who committed crimes before July 1

Istanbul: Turkey will grant early release to some 38,000 prisoners who committed crimes before July 1, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said on Wednesday, amid reports of prison overcrowding after the failed coup.

Bozdag said in a series of messages on Twitter that the move was "not an amnesty". It will not apply to convicts guilty of murder, terrorism or state security as well as the thousands jailed after the putsch which took place on July 15.