Iran Leader Agrees to New Conditions for Pardoning Prisoners

The Leader approved the conditions at the request of the country’s Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani on the occasions of the birthday anniversary of Fatimah Zahra (SA), the daughter of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and the Persian New Year (due to begin on March 21).

Under the new conditions, the Judiciary will reduce three-fourth of the jail terms of convicts sentenced up to a year, half of the jail terms of convicts sentenced between a year and 20 years, and the remaining of the jail terms of convicts sentenced to more than 20 years provided that they have served at least 10 years of their sentence.

Those serving terms in Iranian prisons due to financial problems and inability to pay their fines are also included in the new order.

Article 110 of the Constitution grants the Supreme Leader the right to pardon or reduce the sentences of convicts upon a recommendation from the head of the Judiciary.

The clemency, however, does not apply to all types of convicts, including those who have been sentenced for their role in armed struggle against the country, armed or organized drug trafficking, rape, armed robbery, arms smuggling, abduction, bribery and embezzlement.