Syrian Authorities Free 366 Prisoners from Aleppo Jail

Syrian authorities have freed for “humanitarian reasons” 366 detainees from Aleppo prison in the north of the country, state news agency SANA reported Friday.prisoners

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said a first group of 10 prisoners were freed Thursday and that more would follow, adding that most of the prisoners were convicted criminals.

“The authorities have released 366 detainees from Aleppo’s central prison… for humanitarian reasons due to the siege imposed by terrorists,” SANA said, referring to Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Nusra Front and other terrorist groups.

Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP by telephone from Britain that conditions inside the prison are “horrific” and prisoners are being freed due to outbreaks of disease, including tuberculosis.

“The evacuation of prisoners began yesterday and the Red Crescent has successfully brought out 10 people. Others will gradually be set free,” he said. The Observatory said the Red Crescent was also taking in food rations, medicine and clothes into the prison on the outskirts of Aleppo, Syria’s second city and former commercial hub.