Tunisian president pardons 1,559 prisoners

TUNIS, march 18 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi decided to grant pardons to 1,559 prisoners on the Tunisian Independence Day on march 20, the Tunisian presidency said Monday in a statement.

And 601 of these prisoners will be released from prison and the rest 958 will enjoy a reduction in the duration of the judicial terms issued against them.

Tunisia celebrates its independence from France on march 20 of each year, as it became independent in 1956.