Tasnim – Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on the occasion of the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr pardoned or commuted prison terms of 1,049 convicts found guilty by various Iranian courts.

The pardon was granted on Sunday at the request of the country’s Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani.

Article 110 of the Constitution grants the Leader the right to pardon or reduce the sentences of convicts upon a recommendation from the head of the Judiciary.

The clemency, however, does not apply to all types of convicts, including those who have been sentenced for their role in armed struggle against the country, armed or organized drug trafficking, rape, armed robbery, arms smuggling, abduction, bribery and embezzlement.

Eid al-Fitr, also called Feast of Breaking the Fast, is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims around the world.

The observance traditionally begins with the sighting of the new moon of the 10th month of the Islamic lunar calendar. This year, Eid falls on June 26 in Iran.