Supreme Leader of Islamic Ummah pardons, commutes sentences of over 2,000 inmates

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has pardoned or commuted the sentences of over 2000 Iranian prisoners on the eve of the birthday anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Ayatollah Khamenei on Monday agreed to a request by Iran’s Judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei to pardon or reduce the sentences of 2,284 inmates eligible for parole or reduction of sentence.

The inmates had been convicted in the country’s public and Islamic Revolution courts, the Judicial Organization of the Armed Forces, and the State Discretionary Punishment Organization.

The clemency was granted on the eve of the birthday anniversaries of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Imam Ja’far Sadiq (AS), the sixth Shia Imam, which fall on Tuesday.

The Leader regularly issues such decrees on the occasion of religious festivities.

Article 110 of Iran’s Constitution grants the Leader the right to pardon or reduce the sentences of inmates upon a recommendation from the head of the Judiciary.

The clemency, however, does not apply to all types of prisoners, including those who have been sentenced for their role in armed struggle against the country, armed or organized drug trafficking, rape, armed robbery, arms smuggling, abduction, bribery, and embezzlement.