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40 years of Iranian revolution: Large number of prisoners to be pardoned, says Khamenei

40 years of Iranian revolution: Large number of prisoners to be pardoned, says Khamenei

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Alargenumberofprisonersin Iran will bepardonedon Thursday in honour of the 40thanniversaryof therevolutionthat toppled the US-backed Shah, Supreme Leader Ayatollah AliKhameneisaid on his Twitter account.

Thenumberofprisonersthat will bepardonedbyKhameneiwas not announced, butIranianmedia earlier said around 50,000prisonerswill enjoy "the Islamic clemency".

The country is holding official celebrations for theanniversaryof the 1979 IslamicRevolutionthat will culminate next Monday in a nationwide rally.

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It was not immediately clear whether those who will bepardonedwill include some of the hundreds ofprisonersthat human rights groups say have been jailed for political offences.

Several dual nationals from the United States, Britain, Austria, Canada and France have been detained by Iran's security forces in past years and have been kept behind bars on charges including espionage and collaborating with hostile governments.

Khameneihas the final say on all state matters and issues pardons or reduces sentences ofprisonerson special occasions.