Supreme Leader Pardons 80 Iranian Prisoners

(FNA)- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei pardoned or commuted prison terms of a large number of convicts sentenced by various Iranian courts.

Iran’s Judiciary Spokesman and Prosecutor-General Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeii announced on Monday that Ayatollah Khamenei has agreed with granting clemency to a sum of 80 convicts, including a number of convicts who were imprisoned due to their roles in the 2009 post-election unrests.

The pardon was made at the request of the country's Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani.

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 Article does not apply to all types of convicts, specially those who have been sentenced for their role in armed struggle against the Islamic Republic, armed or organized drug trafficking, rape, armed robbery, arms smuggling, abduction, bribery and embezzlement.

Earlier this month, Ayatollah Khamenei said he has long held the belief in “heroic flexibility” in both domestic and foreign policy, but cautioned that the tactic which is very necessary on some occasions should only be practiced after one gathers deep insight about the nature of his/her foreign rivals.