Iran's supreme leader issues pardon for 'tens of thousands' of prisoners
The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has pardoned "tens of thousands" of prisoners, including some people arrested in recent anti-government protests, according to state news agency IRNA. However, the pardon approved by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would not apply to any of the numerous dual nationals held in the country. According to Iranian officials, the amnesty also does not apply to those who refuse to admit and regret their crimes. Those “affiliated with groups hostile to Iran” will also be excluded, according to Iranian authorities. The Supreme Leader announced the pardon in honor of the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Reportedly, the conditional amnesty was proposed to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the head of the judiciary of the Islamic Republic. According to the HRANA activist news agency, around 20,000 people have been arrested for participating in anti-government and anti-hijab protests. ...