DUSHANBE, November 25, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- The amnesty declared on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Tajikistan’s has been completed and more than 4,300, including 196 women and 153 minors, have been released under this amnesty, the source in the punishment execution directorate of the Ministry of Justice told Asia-plus Friday afternoon.

According to him, some 5,000 other prisoners have had their prison terms cut.

“The amnesty has also benefited more than 5000 people who were under examination or on trial but not yet convicted,” said the source.

Those granted amnesty include 72 members or supporters of the outlawed religious extremist groups such as Hizb ut-Tahrir and Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) as well as some 100 supporters of the mutiny Colonel Mahmoud Khudoiberdyev.   

The 2011 amnesty mainly benefited men over 55, those prisoners suffering from cancer or tuberculosis, and women.  The amnesty also applied to members of political parties, public associations and illegal religious organizations who were sentenced to five years in prison as well as persons who were sentenced to more than five years in prison and have served three-quarters of their terms.  The amnesty also benefited militants who fought government troops in 1997 in Khatlon province, Dushanbe, Hisor, Shahrinav and Tursunzoda as well as armed clash of 1998 in Sughd province if they have served half their sentences.

The amnesty excluded those serving sentences for serious crimes such as terrorism and extremism, killing two and more people, recidivists or those who committed crimes in prison.

In all, more than 15,000 people have fallen under the 2011 amnesty, which is the 13th amnesty the government has approved.

According to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), there are 17 penitentiary institutions in Tajikistan.