Leader Grants Clemency to Large Number of Iranian Inmates for Revolution Anniversary
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei approved a proposal to grant an amnesty to a large number of Iranian prisoners on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of victory of the Islamic Revolution.
Ayatollah Khamenei agreed on Thursday to pardon or commute the sentences of many Iranian convicts upon a proposal from Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani who had requested the Leader’s clemency for prisoners with specific conditions.
The amnesty was granted in honor of the 40th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution, which toppled the Pahvali dynasty in 1979.
Article 110 of the Constitution grants the Leader the right to pardon or reduce the sentences of convicts upon a recommendation from the head of the Judiciary.
The new clemency would apply to a large population of inmates, including those sentenced to life in prison who have remained behind bars for at least 15 years for men and at least 12 years for women.
Men above the age of 70 and women above the age of 60 will be also released from prison, provided that they have served at least one-fifths of their sentences when sentenced to more than 5 years behind bars.
The clemency, however, does not apply to certain types of convicts, including those who have been sentenced for their role in the armed smuggling of narcotics, arms trafficking, kidnapping, acid attacks, rape, armed robbery, bribery, embezzlement, counterfeit money forgery, money laundering, disruption of economy, smuggling of alcoholic drinks, and organized smuggling of commodities.