TEHRAN (Iran News) – Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei approved a proposal to grant an amnesty to a large number of Iranian prisoners on the occasion of the Muslim festive days in the lunar month of Rajab and also the Nowruz festival.

Ayatollah Khamenei agreed on Tuesday to pardon or commute the sentences of eligible Iranian convicts upon a proposal from Judiciary Chief Hojatoleslam Seyed Ebrahim Raeisi, who had requested the Leader’s clemency for prisoners with specific conditions.

The amnesty proposed by Iran Leader was granted in honor of Eid al-Mab’ath – the anniversary of the day Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was chosen as God’s messenger, the birthday of Imam Ali (AS) – the first Shiite Imam, and Nowruz, which marks the beginning of the new Iranian year.

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.

In his request, the top judge had asked Ayatollah Khamenei to approve of the clemency considering the need to reduce the population of prisons, help the inmates to reintegrate into the society, and minimize the negative impacts of imprisonment on the families of the inmates.

The status of conviction of the eligible prisoners to whom the Leader’s clemency applies must be finalized until March 18, 2020.

The new clemency would apply to a large number of inmates, including those who have been sentenced to more than 10 years in prison and have remained behind bars for at least half the sentence period.

Men above the age of 70 and women above the age of 60 will also be released from prison, provided that they have served at least one-fifth of their sentences.

The clemency, however, does not apply to certain types of convicts, including those who have been sentenced for their role in the armed smuggling of narcotics, arms trafficking, kidnapping, acid attacks, rape, armed robbery, bribery, embezzlement, counterfeit money forgery, money laundering, disruption of the economy, and smuggling of alcoholic drinks.