Leader Extends Clemency to Over 2,000 Inmates with Pardons and Sentence Reductions
More than 2,000 convicts have been pardoned or had their sentences commuted by Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, in light of the upcoming Eid al-Ghadir festival, according to a statement from the judiciary.
The judiciary has announced that Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, has granted pardons or commuted the sentences of over 2,000 individuals in anticipation of the Eid al-Ghadir celebrations, a significant event in the Muslim calendar.
Clemency has been granted following a request from Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, benefiting inmates convicted by general and revolutionary courts, military tribunals, and government penal institutions.
Judiciary official Ali Mozafari announced on Friday that convicts eligible for consideration must meet stringent criteria, including the absence of a private plaintiff and no prior significant criminal record. Additionally, these individuals must show evidence of reform following the partial completion of their sentence. Factors such as age, family situation, and the nature of the crime will also be taken into account.
Mozafari emphasized the judiciary’s principle of fully executing sentences. However, he noted that if it becomes evident during enforcement that an individual has reformed and continued punishment is unwarranted, options for pardon or sentence reduction are considered.
Mozafari announced that the majority of the 2,000 individuals who have been pardoned will be released immediately.
Mozafari firmly established stringent boundaries, declaring that individuals convicted of security-related offenses, espionage, activities opposing national security either internally or externally, as well as those who have posed a threat to public safety, will categorically not be eligible for pardon under any situation.
In the ongoing conflict, where the Islamic Republic of Iran is involved in a conflict with international powers, including the United States and the Zionist regime, authorities are handling cases of crimes against national security with absolute firmness. Those convicted under these charges are not eligible for any sentence reductions or pardons, he stated.
Clemency for cases involving private plaintiffs can only be granted if consent is secured from the plaintiff.
Pardons are customarily revealed during significant religious and national events. Eid al-Ghadir, observed on the 18th of Dhu al-Hijjah, commemorates the moment when Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon Him) designated Imam Ali (AS) as his successor.
Provincial pardon commissions, along with a central commission, have diligently reviewed eligible cases, overcoming time constraints imposed by holidays and the nation’s wartime circumstances, according to Mozafari. He stressed that the decisions are guided strictly by legal criteria, ensuring that the process remains free from any external pressure or demands.
“No external pressures, demands, or considerations outside the bounds of legal frameworks influence the review process,” he stated.
In the midst of ongoing security tensions with the United States and Israel, Iran has announced clemency measures. Mozafari emphasized that individuals convicted of crimes against state security are not eligible for any sentence reductions or pardons under the new directive.
