Iran releases a number of political prisoners

Families of political detainees in one of their numerous demonstrations

A number of imprisoned Iranian students and political prisoners were released on the occasion of Ghadir Eid by the order of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Following the announcement by the Islamic Republic authorities that 649 prisoners have received a pardon or a reduction in their sentences, 19 political prisoners were released today, most of which were students.

Iranian media had reported that Iran’s head of judiciary, Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani has requested the supreme leader to pardon a number of prisoners on the occasion of the Muslim festivities.

Opposition media reports that 19 political prisoners have been released so far, many of which were arrested in the post-election protests.

The release of these political prisoners has not been announced by official news agencies of the Islamic Republic yet.

In June of this year, Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi, Tehran’s Prosecutor announced that 81 “repentant convicts” have been pardoned by the Supreme Leader.

On the other hand, hardline cleric Ayatollah Jannati, head of Iran’s Guardian Council told Friday Prayers worshippers on November 4 that recent political prisoners, who according to him were involved in “a sedition”, should no be released.

Islamic Republic hardliners claim election protesters were involved in a seditious movement to overthrow the system, a charge that is vehemently denied by the opposition.