Khamenei's Order to Convert Death Sentences of 59 Individuals to Imprisonment and Pardon 39 Political Prisoners

Amid criticism over the increase in death sentences and their implementation in Iran, as well as the expansion of anti-death penalty campaigns in prisons, reports indicate that the death sentences of 59 convicts have been converted to imprisonment and 39 political prisoners have been pardoned. Iranian news agencies reported on Friday, September 30, citing the Deputy Chief Justice of the Judiciary, that these individuals were pardoned by the order of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic on the occasion of the anniversary of the birth of the Prophet of Islam and the seventh Imam of the Shiites. This news comes at a time when international and domestic human rights organizations criticize the rate of death sentences and their implementation in Iran, most of which are related to drug offenses. Following the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests, the Islamic Republic executed several young protesters, and currently, some political and ideological prisoners, including women, are at risk of execution. According to Iranian news agencies, this pardon also includes 140 female convicts and 39 security convicts. However, the names of these 'security' convicts, a term used in the Islamic Republic's terminology for political prisoners, have not been mentioned. As stated by Sadegh Rahimi, the Deputy Chief Justice, the Supreme Leader has also approved the pardon and reduction of sentences for a total of 2,887 individuals, of which 2,745 are from general and revolutionary courts, 11 from the military judiciary, and 131 from the government’s punitive organization. According to the report, out of the 2,745 individuals from general and revolutionary courts who have received pardons and sentence reductions, 1,291 have received pardons leading to their release and closure of their cases, while the remaining 1,596 have received sentence reductions. As reported by the Mizan news agency, 140 of the pardoned convicts are women, 40 are foreign nationals, and six are under 18 years old. No details about the crimes of any of these individuals have been mentioned. Ali Salehi, the Tehran prosecutor, also stated in separate remarks that on the occasion of the anniversary of the birth of the Prophet of Islam and the seventh Imam of the Shiites, as well as the beginning of the new school year, more than six thousand eligible prisoners with school-age children will be granted leave. Gholamali Mohammadi, the former head of the prison organization, stated in July 2022 that our prison population is significantly high compared to the total population of the country, and in the Islamic Republic of Iran, 'we have more prisoners than the global average in the country’s prisons.' Numerous reports have been published regarding the poor conditions of prisoners in Iran, which responsible officials have either denied, downplayed, or taken legal action against the reporters.