The Washington Post spoke to three Iranians affected by a recent amnesty, as the authorities seek to restore order after months of anti-government protests.
It is not uncommon for Iran to pardon tens of thousands of prisoners, typically ahead of holidays such as the Persian new year and Ramadan, said Hadi Enayat, a political sociologist specializing in Iranian law.But the scale of the arrests during this round of protests was unprecedented, Ghaemi said, and the state was unequipped to deal with so many
“The government wanted to cool down the anti-regime atmosphere dominating the country,” said Rahmani, and to reduce “pressure from rights groups abroad that have been watching the killings and arrests.” A 40-year-old political activist in Tehran who was imprisoned for 31 days said he was told to sign a similar “letter of repentance” to qualify for a pardon, but refused. He was bothered by the seeming arbitrariness of the process, he said; other activists he knew hadn’t been required to sign anything.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
12-year-old girl, multiple others injured in shootings believed to be connected in Washington DCMultiple men and a 12-year-old girl were wounded in two shootings believed to be connected in Washington, D.C., Friday night. The victims suffered non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.
Read more »
Personal financial expert shreds US over ‘ridiculous’ runaway spending: Washington ‘has no backbone’Ramsey Solutions founder Dave Ramsey discusses federal government spending amid the debt ceiling debate.
Read more »
First Coast Honor Flight sends local veterans to Washington D.C. for special honorDozens of local veterans are heading to the nation’s capital for a special trip.
Read more »
8 people shot, including 12-year-old, in Washington, D.C.Eight people were shot in Washington, D.C., Friday night, including a 12-year-old girl, in two scenes that are likely connected, police say.
Read more »
8 People, Including a 12-Year-Old Girl, Shot in Washington, D.C.Eight people, including a 12-year-old girl, were shot at two separate locations in Southeast Washington, D.C. on Friday night in what police suspect were connected incidents due to their proximity.
Read more »
Toddler shot, left at fire station in Washington state, police sayA toddler was hospitalized after police found the child in critical condition from a gunshot wound at a fire station in Washington state on Friday.
Read more »