Iran to pardon 'tens of thousands' of convicts, including protesters

Iran to pardon 'tens of thousands' of convicts, including protesters



Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has agreed to pardon "tens of thousands" of those convicted, including those involved in anti-government protests. reported on Sunday, the state agency IRNA.

The amnesty, proposed in a letter to the Ayatollah by the head of the Iranian judiciary, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, will be held in honor of the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution of 1979.

“Those convicted of the recent riots will be pardoned or have their sentences reduced unless they are charged with spying for foreigners, direct contact with foreign intelligence agents, intentionally killing and injuring, destroying or setting fire to government, military and public facilities,” – the message says.

Reuters, citing information activists HRANA also writesthat about 20,000 people were arrested in connection with anti-government protests.

Protests in Iran began last September 18 after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was detained in Tehran by a "mentor patrol" for "wrong wearing the hijab." The official cause of death was the girl's heart problems. At the same time, according to eyewitnesses, the girl was beaten by representatives of law and order.

In early December, Iran's top state security body said that another wave of unrest in the country had killed 200 people. As noted by Reuters, this is significantly less than reported by human rights activists and the UN, according to which the number of victims exceeded 300 people.

At the end of November, the Iranian authorities released 1,871 prisoners from prison after the victory of the national football team over the team of Wales. Before that, it became known about the arrest of two football players who, as they planned to take part in the action dedicated to the memory of Mahsa Amini.

December 3 Iranian Attorney General Mohammad Jafar Montazeri declaredthat one of the divisions of the so-called morality police has been liquidated in the country, the ISNA agency reported.



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