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Ayatollah Khamenei grants clemency to 139 death row prisoners
The pardon was granted at the request of the country’s Judiciary Chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei.
Jahangir said that Ayatollah Khamenei granted the amnesty on the basis of Islamic compassion, stressing that the decision comes whilst many countries refuse to grant clemency during wars and crises.
He emphasized that Iranian prisoners convicted of undermining national security and involvement in foreign-backed January riots and acts of sabotage were excluded from the amnesty list.
Article 110 of the Constitution grants the 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 certain types of convicts, including those who have been sentenced for their role in the armed struggle against the country, armed or organized drug trafficking, armed robbery, arms smuggling, abduction, bribery, and embezzlement.
Back in June 5, the Leader had also pardoned or commuted the sentences of more than 2,000 convicts.
The clemency applies to inmates convicted by general and revolutionary courts, military tribunals, and government penal institutions. Such pardons are routinely announced on major religious and national occasions.