Iran pardons 139 death row inmates in rare mass clemency decision

TEHRAN: Iran has granted amnesty to 139 prisoners sentenced to death in an unprecedented decision approved by the country’s supreme leader, according to judicial officials.

Judiciary spokesman Ali Asghar Jahangir said the pardons were issued for the first time for inmates on death row, bringing relief to 139 individuals convicted in various cases.

He said the decision was approved by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

According to Jahangir, the pardoned prisoners had no private complainants against them and did not have a record of security-related offenses. He added that they qualified for clemency after showing remorse, good conduct and participation in rehabilitation programs while in prison.

The judiciary did not provide further details on the specific cases or the offenses involved.

Mass pardons of death row inmates are rare in Iran, where capital punishment remains widely used under the country’s legal system.