<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>The head of Iran's judiciary says 22,000 people arrested in the recent protests that swept the Islamic Republic have been pardoned.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The state-run IRNA news agency quoted Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejehi on Monday as announcing the figure. The Associated Press could not independently verify the statement.</div><div><br></div><div>State media previously suggested Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei could pardon that many swept up in the demonstrations ahead of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan.</div><div><br></div><div>The protests began in September over the death of a 22-year-old woman named Mahsa Amini after she was detained by the country's morality police. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>