Thousands of prisoners pardoned

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has pardoned 6 294 prisoners, but many others detained for participating in an anti-government protest movement remain in custody. A report on the News24 site notes that the decree covered detainees ‘whose remaining sentence is 18 months or less’ and it excludes those imprisoned for crimes including terrorism, treason, espionage and corruption. Tebboune last week pardoned a further 3 471 criminals who had six months or less remaining of their sentence. Tebboune was elected on 12 December in a poll which saw an official turnout of less than 40%.