On February 18, the Revolution Command Council (RCC)...

On February 18, the Revolution Command Council (RCC) issued Decree No. 23, granting amnesty to 29 prison inmates, commuting the death sentences of 5 people to life sentences, and commuting the prison terms of 2,481 prison inmates by half. The decree provides for the prison terms of 23 inmates to be commuted by 40%, and the prison terms of those covered by the provisions of this decree to be commuted by 30% if their death sentences were commuted to life sentences in the past. Moreover, the decree stipulates that the legal procedures against 697 detainees shall be halted. They will be released, with the exception of those charged with crimes punishable by death - their punishment will be commuted to life sentences once their death sentences become definitive. Additionally, the decree stipulates that those involved in murders shall not be set free unless a conciliation is effected between the legal inheritors of the victims of murder cases and the perpetrators' relatives. Moreover, the convicts and defendants covered in this decree shall not be set free unless they repay their debts to the state if they owe any such debts to the state. The decree also states that convicts and defendants shall not be covered by its provisions if they are perpetrators of the following crimes or defendants thereof: espionage; drug trafficking; incest, rape, homosexuality, indecent assault; repeat of crimes.