Iran has pardoned 22,000 people over protests, judiciary says

Demonstrations began in September over death of Mahsa Amini

A protester in Istanbul holds a portrait of Mahsa Amini during a demonstration in support of Ms Amini and Iranian protesters. AFP

A total of 22,000 people have been pardoned over the months-long protests in Iran, the judiciary said on Monday.

It followed last week's amnesty granted to more than 80,000 people.

Judiciary head Gholamhossein Ejehi said most of the pardoned protesters were not in jail and were either awaiting trial or sentencing.

Sixty-thousand others were also pardoned upon orders approved in recent weeks by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iranian supreme leader.

Hundreds have been killed and thousands more arrested by security forces after nationwide protests broke out in September following the death of Mahsa Amini in morality police custody.

Authorities denied claims she was beaten to death after being arrested over wearing her hijab "inappropriately".

Her death has sparked global demonstrations in solidarity with Iranian women and calls for western countries to cut ties with Iran amid continuing efforts to revive the deal struck in 2015 with world powers to curb Iran's capacity to manufacture nuclear weapons.

Several people have been executed by Iranian authorities for participating in the protests, prompting an international outcry and fresh sanctions.

Tehran has repeatedly blamed foreign powers, particularly the US and Israel, of inciting the unrest which has proved the biggest challenge to the regime since it was established. It has also accused protesters sentenced to death of murdering security forces at the forefront of the crackdown.

Iran's decision to pardon the protesters comes after it agreed to restore diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia at the weekend. On Sunday, the kingdom's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said the move would reinstate political relations but did not mean that "we have reached [a consensus] to resolve all outstanding differences between our countries".

Iran has also been under great scrutiny for decisions to execute dissidents who the government has charged with "sowing corruption on Earth" and other accusations that are punishable by death under Iranian law.

Most recently, the judiciary upheld the death sentence for Swedish-Iranian Habib Farajollah Chaab, who has been held since October 2020, the judiciary's Mizan Online website reported on Sunday.

Iran does not recognise dual citizenship.