Indonesia is to release over a thousand convicted prisoners after the country's parliament approved the first part of President Prabowo Subianto's comprehensive pardon plan.
The first group of 1,116 people is expected to start leaving the country's overcrowded prisons next week. Among them are rivals of former President Joko Widodo who were imprisoned during his term and several prominent opposition representatives.
Less than two months after he took office in October last year, Subianto announced that he planned to pardon 44,000 prisoners across Indonesia. Previously, the country's leaders have rarely exercised this authority, which requires parliamentary approval.
The authorities are expected to soon submit a second list to parliament with an additional 1,688 prisoners who may be released.
