The amnesty was granted in honor of the anniversary of Eid al-Mab'ath, the day on which Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was appointed to prophethood.
In a letter to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Iranian Judiciary Chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei proposed an amnesty or commutation of the sentences of those convicted who were deemed eligible by the General Directorate of Amnesty and Pardon of Iranian Judiciary.
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 certain types of convicts, including those who have been sentenced for their role in the armed smuggling of narcotics, arms trafficking, kidnapping, acid attacks, rape, armed robbery, bribery, embezzlement, counterfeit money forgery, money laundering, disruption of economy, smuggling of alcoholic drinks, and organized smuggling of commodities.