UK to pardon convicted gays under 'Alan Turing Law'
October 20, 2016  17:10
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The UK today said it will posthumously pardon thousands of gay and bisexual men convicted under now-abolished sexual offences law. 

The new law has been dubbed as the 'Alan Turing Law' after Britain's famous Enigma code-breaker responsible for decrypting Nazi messages during World War II who was granted a posthumous royal pardon in 2013 -- 61 years after he was charged at a Manchester police station over homosexual activity. 

Around 75,000 gay and bisexual men were convicted under the Sexual Offences Act, which was abolished in 1967, and around 16,000 are believed to be alive today.  

British Prime Minister Theresa May has given her full backing to the proposal by the Liberal Democrat party and it will become law tomorrow after the House of Lords officially approves an amendment to the Policing and Crime Bill.

Under the amendment, deceased people who were convicted of sexual acts that are no longer deemed criminal will receive an automatic pardon.
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