TEHRAN -- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Sunday pardoned or commuted the sentences of “a significant number” of Iranian prisoners arrested during the recent foreign-backed riots in the country.
The Leader agreed with a request by Judiciary chief Gholamhussein Mohseni-Ejei on the occasion of the 44th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, which put an end to the U.S.-backed Pahlavi regime in 1979, and the birthday anniversary of the first Shia Imam, Imam Ali (AS).
In his letter to Ayatollah Khamenei requesting the pardon, the judiciary head said: “During recent events, a number of people, especially young people, committed wrong actions and crimes as a result of the indoctrination and propaganda of the enemy.
“Since the foreign enemies and anti-revolutionary currents’ plans have been foiled, many of these youth now regret their actions,” Ejei wrote.
The prisoners, who were granted clemency, had had their verdicts issued at courts of common pleas and Islamic Revolution tribunals, the Judicial Organization of the Armed Forces, and the State Discretionary Punishment Organization.
It pardon will not apply to those “facing charges of spying for foreign agencies, having direct contact with foreign agents, committing intentional murder and injury, (and) committing destruction and arson of state property”.
“Naturally, those who do not express regret for their activities and give a written commitment for not repeating those activities, will not be pardoned,” deputy judiciary chief Sadeq Rahimi said.
The official amnesty request was approved in line with the implementation of the 11th paragraph of the Constitution’s Article 110, which gives the Leader the right to pardon or reduce the sentences of convicts upon a recommendation from the head of the Judiciary.
The Leader regularly issues such verdicts on the occasion of religious festivities.