After a deadly state crackdown helped quell the nationwide unrest, Iran’s supreme leader has pardoned “tens of thousands” of prisoners, including some who were arrested during recent anti-government protests, the state news agency IRNA reported on Sunday.
However, state media reports stated that the pardon granted by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was subject to conditions and would not apply to any of the numerous dual nationals held in Iran.
According to the state news agency IRNA, those who have been accused of “corruption on earth,” which is a crime punishable by death and led to the execution of four protesters, would also not be forgiven.
State media reported that it would not apply to those accused of “spying for foreign agencies” or “affiliating with groups hostile to the Islamic Republic.”
After a young Iranian Kurdish woman was killed in the custody of Iran’s morality police in September, protests swept the country. One of the most daring challenges to Iran’s Islamic Republic since the 1979 revolution saw participation from people from all walks of life.
The activist news agency HRANA says that around 20,000 people have been arrested in connection with the protests, which the authorities say were started by Iran’s enemies abroad.
Rights groups claim that the crackdown has resulted in over 500 deaths, including 70 minors. The Iranian judiciary claims that at least four individuals have been hanged.
Since the hangings started, protests have slowed down significantly.
Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, head of the judiciary, wrote a letter to Khamenei requesting a pardon, stating: During recent events, the enemy’s propaganda and indoctrination led to the wrongdoing of a number of people, particularly young people.
Ejei wrote, “Many of these young people now regret their actions because the plans of the foreign enemies and anti-revolutionary currents have been thwarted.”
To commemorate the anniversary of the Islamic revolution in 1979, Khamenei granted the pardons.
Those “facing charges of spying for foreign agencies, having direct contact with foreign agents, committing intentional murder and injury, [and] committing destruction and arson of state property” would not be subject to this restriction.
State media reported that deputy judiciary chief Sadeq Rahimi stated, “Naturally, those who do not express regret for their activities and give a written commitment for not repeating those activities, will not be pardoned.”
This week, the Iran Human Rights Group, based in Norway, stated that at least one hundred detained protesters had the potential to die.
“Sham trials designed to intimidate those participating in the popular uprising that has rocked Iran” have been criticized by Amnesty International.
