The head of the Iranian judiciary, Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, has announced that 22,000 people have been pardoned in connection with the protests triggered by the death in police custody of young Mahsa Amini last September 16. In addition, another 60,000 people unrelated to the protests have also benefited from the measure, with some 25,000 being released from prison and 34,000 having their sentences reduced.
In total, the sentences of 82,000 people have been given a full or partial pardon. However, the Iranian authorities have not provided overall figures for those arrested in the demonstrations, nor is it known how many of the 22,000 pardoned have actually been imprisoned. The measure had been approved on February 5 by Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, at the proposal of Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei himself.
Mahsa Amini’s death provoked a wave of popular anger in the country and became an open challenge to the Islamic regime that has ruled Iran since 1979. Demonstrators calling for “women, life, and freedom” were repressed, resulting in the deaths of at least 500 people, according to Iran Human Rights.
The Iranian judicial system had specified that only those who showed “repentance” and were not involved in blood crimes, theft, or other violent acts, such as the destruction of public property, could benefit from the pardon. Between December and January, Iran executed four men accused of wounding or killing security forces officers in trials that human rights organizations described as “farcical.” In addition, 17 other people had been sentenced to death in Iran as of January alone on charges related to anti-regime demonstrations. The demonstrations that followed Mahsa Amini’s death were persistent and widespread, calling for the overthrow of the regime.