Venezuelan Parliament Unanimously Approves Amnesty Law

SadaNews - The Venezuelan parliament unanimously approved, late Thursday to Friday, an amnesty law that allows for the release of political prisoners in the country, less than two months after the United States arrested President Nicolas Maduro.

The head of parliament, Jorge Rodriguez, announced "The Law of Democratic Coexistence has been approved and has been sent to interim President Delcy Rodriguez for announcement." The interim Venezuelan president, Delcy Rodriguez, signed the amnesty law approved by parliament, which was handed to her by her brother and head of parliament, Jorge Rodriguez.

Ten women related to political prisoners detained in the "Zona 7" prison in Caracas ended their hunger strike on Saturday, protesting after the parliament announced the approval of the amnesty law on Thursday, according to a reporter from Agence France-Presse. Ten women from families of prisoners began a hunger strike on Saturday, laying in front of the prison gates. After experiencing health issues, four of them continued the strike on Wednesday night, while only one carried it on Thursday. The last woman ended her hunger strike after "136 hours" (over 5 days), according to a sign posted near them.

The amnesty law, debated on Thursday in the Venezuelan parliament, will exclude individuals who "encouraged" "armed actions" against Venezuela, which may exclude many opposition members, including their leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado, who supported the U.S. operation on January 3.

Article 9 of the law also states that the amnesty will exclude "individuals who are being tried or convicted or may be tried for promoting, inciting, requesting, favoring, facilitating, financing, or participating in armed or coercive actions against the people of Venezuela and its sovereignty and territorial integrity by foreign countries, companies, or individuals.".

The law, which interim president Delcy Rodriguez pledged to pass after succeeding Nicolas Maduro following his arrest during the U.S. operation last month in Caracas, aims to allow for the release of political prisoners.