Ali Khamenei has approved a proposal to ease the pardon or punishment of convicts convicted in general, revolution and armed forces courts.

Khamenei agreed on Thursday to pardon or commute the sentences of many Iranian convicts upon a proposal from Judiciary Chief Sadeq Amoli Larijani who had requested Khamenei's clemency for prisoners with specific conditions.

The new clemency would apply to a large population of inmates, including those sentenced to life in prison who have remained behind bars for at least 15 years for men and at least 12 years for women.

Men above the age of 70 and women above the age of 60 will be also released from prison if they have served at least one-fifth of their sentences when sentenced to more than 5 years behind bars.

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 economy, smuggling of alcoholic drinks, and organized smuggling of commodities.

ILKHA