Cuba has pardoned 787 prisoners in response to a call by Pope Francis to consider granting inmates amnesty. Those pardoned include female, young and sick prisoners but not those who have committed “extremely dangerous” crimes such as murder or rape.
It comes just days before the end of the Jubilee Holy Year of Mercy, declared by Pope Francis last year.
It is not clear if there are any political dissidents among those who will be released.
Human rights groups accuse the government of holding dozens of “political prisoners”, but President Castro has denied holding any.
Cuba released more than 3,500 prisoners ahead of the Pope’s visit in what the authorities called “a goodwill gesture”.
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