President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdymukhamedov has pardoned 356 people who repented for their crimes in honor of Laylat al-Qadr (The Night of Power). The head of state signed the relevant decision at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, according to a report by the Turkmen state news agency.
Representatives of the relevant law-enforcement agencies were instructed to release the prisoners and return them to their families in the near future. Furthermore, provincial, etrap (sub-provincial) and city mayors and other leaders were instructed to take appropriate measures to employ pardoned persons.
On April 5-6, Muslims in Turkmenistan celebrate the night of power (gadyr gijesi in Turkmen), a symbol of virtue and spiritual purity.
Laylat al-Qadr is, in Islamic belief, the night when Muslims believe the Quran was first sent down from heaven to the world, and also the night when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Islamic prophet, Muhammad.
