The Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei granted a request for the pardoning or commuting the sentences of a number of convicts on August 19, 2007.
The Chief of the Judiciary Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi-Shahroudi, in a letter to the Leader of the Islamic Republic, had made the request for the pardoning or commuting the sentences of 3971 convicts who had been tried by general, revolutionary or military courts in the country.
The request had been made on the occasion of the feasts marking the auspicious birth anniversaries of some noble members of the Holy Prophet's household (peace and greetings be upon them) in the lunar month of Sha'ban.
Ayatollah Khamenei granted the request in conformity with clause 11 of article 110 of the Islamic Republic of Iran's Constitution.