Khamenei pardons, commutes sentences of thousands of inmates

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has agreed to pardon or commute the sentences of 2,654 inmates, including 30 foreign nationals and 53 convicted on security charges.

The leader granted the clemency on the occasions of Eid al-Adha, one of the most important holidays for Muslims across the world, and Eid al-Ghadir, a significant holiday celebrated by Shiite Muslims, Iran's Deputy Judiciary Chief Sadeq Rahimi said.

After being approved by Iran's Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, a list of inmates who were eligible for receiving clemency was submitted to the leader, Rahimi added.

The inmates were convicted in the country's public and Islamic Revolution courts, the Judicial Organization of the Armed Forces, and the State Discretionary Punishment Organization.

According to Rahimi, 29 of those whose sentences were commuted had been sentenced to death, adding their sentences had been reduced to jail terms.