Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 5
By Fatih Karimov – Trend:
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has declared an amnesty on the occasion of the birth anniversaries of Prophet Muhammad and the Shiite muslims’ sixth Imam, Imam Jafar Sadeq.
Khamenei agreed to pardon or reduce the sentences of 1,007 inmates convicted by various Iranian courts on Dec. 5, the leader's official website said.
The head of Iran's judiciary Sadiq Amoli Larijani appealed to the Supreme Leader with a letter in which he asked for pardon and reduced sentences of some convicts of military, civil and revolutionary courts.
The supreme leader signed the decree. Iran's Constitution grants him the right to pardon or reduce the sentences of convicts upon the recommendation of the judiciary chief.
Amnesties and reduced prison terms are granted mainly on occasions of religious and national festivals in Iran.