Recent Amnesty to Cover Drug Offenders

The prosecutor general of Tehran said a large number of drug offenders serving lengthy sentences will be released under the recent clemency granted by the Leader of Islamic Revolution on the occasion of the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Speaking in a radio program on Tuesday, Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi added that the recent clemency granted by Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei would apply to a large number of drug convicts sentenced to long terms, Tasnim News Agency reported.
Those given a life sentence would also be eligible for the amnesty, he said, noting that there are thousands of convicts sentenced to life imprisonment in Tehran alone, many of whom will benefit from the new regulation.
Iran is in the process of reforming regulations governing offences related to narcotics trade and abuse to address international criticism of heavy sentences handed down by Iranian courts for major drug crimes.

Wide-Ranging Amnesty   

Last week, Ayatollah Khamenei approved a proposal by the judiciary chief to grant a wide-ranging amnesty to a large number of Iranian prisoners on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.
Article 110 of Iranian Constitution grants the Leader the right to pardon or reduce the sentences of convicts based on the recommendation of the head of the judiciary.
The new clemency would apply to a large segment 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 released from prison, provided they have served at least one-fifth of sentences spanning more than five years in jail.
The clemency, however, does not apply to certain types of convicts, including those who have been convicted for armed smuggling of narcotics, arms trafficking, kidnapping, acid attacks, rape, armed robbery, bribery, embezzlement, counterfeiting money, money laundering, economic disruption, smuggling of alcoholic drinks and organized smuggling of commodities.