Forgive
Amnesty (Greek αμνηστια - oblivion, forgiveness) is a measure applied by decision of a state authority to persons who have committed crimes, the essence of which consists in full or partial exemption from punishment, replacement of the punishment with a milder one or in termination of criminal prosecution.
"Amnesty" differs from pardon in that it applies not to individually named individuals, but to entire categories of criminals, defined by generic characteristics: women, minors, convicted to short sentences, etc.
The application of amnesties is usually justified by considerations of humanity, but amnesties sometimes have purely practical objectives: they can serve to reduce the population of the institutions executing the punishment, or contribute to the achievement of specific political goals.
Etymology
The root ʿayn fā wāw (ع ف و) is used in Quran 35 times.
