Iran supreme leader pardons ‘tens of thousands’ of prisoners linked to mass protests: state media

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, ordered an amnesty or reduction in prison sentences for what he called “tens of thousands” of people detained amid the nationwide anti-government protests that shook the country. However, state media said the criteria for amnesty was also laid out and among it was those accused of “corruption on earth” — which some of the protesters had been charged with and four had been executed — would not be pardoned.

• Iran protests: Supreme leader acknowledges ‘tens of thousands’ of people detained