Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, has agreed to pardon or commute the sentences of 2,108 prisoners, but none of those involved in recent protests will benefit from the measure, the judiciary announced on Tuesday. The decision was made to coincide with a major religious holiday and the 47th anniversary of Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, which is celebrated this Wednesday. The pardons were granted following a request from the head of the judiciary, Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, according to the judiciary's Mizan Online news outlet. The judiciary's deputy head, Ali Mozaffari, stated that the measure excludes defendants and convicts linked to recent 'riots,' Mizan reported. Khamenei often exercises his constitutional authority to grant pardons during official ceremonies. Semi-official news agency Tasnim reported in January that around 3,000 people linked to the protests had been detained, citing security sources.
These measures do not apply to those convicted of serious crimes, such as armed opposition to the state, large-scale drug trafficking, armed robbery, arms smuggling, espionage, and corruption.
Last month, protests erupted across Iran over economic grievances before taking on a political turn and turning violent, causing casualties and widespread damage to public property, mosques, government buildings, and banks.
