Iran’s supreme chief points pardon for ‘tens of 1000’s’ of prisoners

Iran’s supreme chief has pardoned “tens of thousands” of prisoners together with some arrested in current anti-government protests.

Dubai,UPDATED: Feb 6, 2023 07:06 IST

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks throughout a gathering with a bunch of ladies who reached the age of puberty in Tehran, Iran February 3, 2023. (Reuters picture)

By Reuters: Iran’s supreme chief has pardoned “tens of thousands” of prisoners together with some arrested in current anti-government protests, state information company IRNA reported on Sunday, after a lethal state crackdown helped quell the nationwide unrest.

However, the pardon accredited by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei got here with situations, in keeping with particulars introduced in state media experiences, which mentioned the measure wouldn’t apply to any of the quite a few twin nationals held in Iran.

State information company IRNA mentioned these accused of “corruption on earth” – a capital cost introduced towards some protesters, 4 of whom have been executed – would additionally not be pardoned.

READ | ‘Death to Khamenei’: Fresh protests erupt in Iran over civilian killings

Neither would it not apply to these charged with “spying for foreign agencies” or these “affiliated with groups hostile to the Islamic Republic”, state media reported.

Iran was swept by protests following the demise of a younger Iranian Kurdish lady within the custody of the nation’s morality police final September. Iranians from all walks of life took half, marking one of many boldest challenges to the Islamic Republic for the reason that 1979 revolution.

According to the HRANA activist information company, about 20,000 individuals have been arrested in reference to the protests, which the authorities accused Iran’s overseas enemies of fomenting.

READ | Prison time period for 400 ‘rioters’ as Iran cracks down on anti-hijab protests

Rights teams say over 500 have been killed within the crackdown, together with 70 minors. At least 4 individuals have been hanged, in keeping with the Iranian judiciary.

In a letter to Khamenei requesting the pardon, judiciary head Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei mentioned: “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.

Protests have slowed considerably since the hangings began.

“Since the overseas enemies and anti-revolutionary currents’ plans have been foiled, many of those youth now remorse their actions,” Ejei wrote.

READ | Prison term for 400 ‘rioters’ as Iran cracks down on anti-hijab protests

Khamenei approved the pardons in honour of the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution.

It would not apply to those “dealing with prices of spying for overseas businesses, having direct contact with overseas brokers, committing intentional homicide and harm, (and) committing destruction and arson of state property”.

“Naturally, those that don’t specific remorse for his or her actions and provides a written dedication for not repeating these actions, is not going to be pardoned,” deputy judiciary chief Sadeq Rahimi said, state media reported.

The Norway-based Iran Human Rights group said this week that at least 100 detained protesters faced possible death sentences.

Amnesty International has criticised Iranian authorities for what it called “sham trials designed to intimidate these collaborating within the well-liked rebellion that has rocked Iran”.

READ | Iran’s ‘demise committee’ president says punishment to all concerned in violence will proceed

Published On:

Feb 6, 2023