TEHRAN -- Iran’s Parliament speaker Muhammad Baqer Qalibaf on Monday praised the “fatherly approach” of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in granting amnesty or commutation of sentences for a “significant number” of those arrested in the recent riots.
Qalibaf said the Leader distinguished between those who were deceived and those who were instigating things from the very beginning of the rioting, noting that the recent pardon plays a key role in restoring unity and national solidarity.
He called on all officials to follow suit on the Leader’s behavior and not allow enemies to prevent the restoration of national solidarity in the aftermath of the incidents.
On Sunday, Ayatollah Khamenei approved amnesty and commutation of sentences for a large number of people charged or convicted for involvement in recent rioting and protests.
Ayatollah Khamenei issued the decree in response to a request by the head of Iran’s judiciary.
The clemency will only apply to those who have not committed espionage, murder, destruction of public property and are not affiliated to foreign spy agencies.
It came in the midst of Iran marking the 44th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution of 1979.