"More than 600 people may be in custody for political reasons, one Venezuelan rights group estimates. Venezuela's acting president has signed into law an amnesty bill that could see hundreds of politicians, activists and lawyers released soon, while tacitly acknowledging what the country has denied for years that it has political detainees in jail. The law, signed on Thursday, in effect reverses decades of denials."
"It does not detail the exact crimes which would be eligible for amnesty, though a previous draft laid out several, including instigation of illegal activity, resistance to authorities, rebellion and treason. People convicted of military rebellion for involvement in events in 2019 are excluded. The law also does not return assets of those detained, revoke public office bans given for political reasons or cancel sanctions against media outlets."
An amnesty law signed by Venezuela's acting president provides for the release of hundreds of politicians, activists and lawyers detained for political reasons. Venezuela-based prisoners' rights group Foro Penal estimates more than 600 people remain in custody for political reasons and has tallied 448 releases since January 8. The law covers involvement in political protests and violent actions during a brief 2002 coup and during demonstrations or elections in certain months going back to 2004. The law does not enumerate eligible crimes in its text, excludes those convicted of 2019 military rebellion, and does not restore assets, revoke public office bans or cancel sanctions against media outlets. Families of detainees remain skeptical after earlier promises and some have gathered outside detention centres awaiting releases.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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