A proposal has been put forward by lawmakers under which Iranians who illegally left the country but have not been charged with or convicted of any crime can return without fear of reprisals.
“If the bill is passed by parliament and approved by other authorities, a general amnesty will be granted to these people on arrival,” lawmaker Mohammad Kazemi told ICANA.
The bill has been tagged with a “double urgency” status, meaning it could be discussed in parliament within days.
If approved by the Majlis, it will be submitted to the Guardian Council, a vetting body, which will either suggest amendments to the text, approve it or kill it.
Criminal Charges
Kazemi, who is deputy chairman of the Majlis Judicial and Legal Affairs Commission, said, “Iranians who have committed a penal crime or a political or security crime will not be eligible for the amnesty.”
“A person who has committed a murder and has fled the country cannot be included in the amnesty plan, but there are people who left the country illegally and could be pardoned under this initiative.”
Reducing Anxiety
According to Kazemi, the purpose of the bill is to remove the “psychological pressure” on innocent people who have sought refuge in other countries and have anxieties about returning.
The proposal also seeks to help facilitate the return of foreign-based investors and specialists who are not guilty of crime, the parliamentarian added.
Lawmaker Yahya Kamalpour says the plan also seeks to protect Iranians from prosecution who do not have a “private plaintiff”.
Under the proposal, the sentences of those who have been convicted of political or security-related crimes will also be commuted, he was quoted as saying by ICANA on Tuesday.
The member of the Majlis Judicial and Legal Affairs Commission added that the initiative can help improve the “political credibility” of the country and will be a good step forward in the realm of human rights.
It is not clear how many people will benefit from the initiative but the number is not expected to be high, Kamalpour said.
