Last
year Governor Tim Kaine granted 53 "simple"
pardons, 3 "absolute" pardons and eight
"conditional" pardons to former offenders.
Among those receiving a "simple" pardon
was Hasan Kalem Zarif, Special Projects Coordinator
for Chaplain Service. Mr. Zarif "was convicted
in Richmond Circuit Court on August 7, 1974, of
first-degree murder. In prison he found God and
an education, receiving parole in
1989
and fulfilling the obligations of his sentence in
2001. Zarif is a prison chaplain who serves as the
special projects coordinator for the Chaplain Service
of the
Churches
of Virginia. In 2007, Kaine restored his rights to vote, hold
office and serve on a jury. In explaining the simple pardon,
Kaine wrote: 'Mr. Zarif's life story is an inspiration to persons
who are incarcerated and an excellent example of rehabilitation'."
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