Iran reformists barred from polls

Australian Broadcasting Company ^ | January 11 2004

[knighthawk]

Hundreds of reformist candidates in Iran have been barred from standing in parliamentary elections next month.

The BBC reports that many reform MPs have walked out of parliament in protest at the ruling by the conservative body which decides who is allowed to contest the seats.

No official announcement has been made about the exact number of disqualifications, as would be candidates are being informed individually.

But local press reports said that just over half of the 1,700 people who presented themselves in the Teheran constituency have been turned down by supervisory committees of the council of guardians, the highly conservative watchdog body which has the right to vet candidates.

According to reformist members of the outgoing parliament, those disqualified include 80 existing reformist deputies.

Among them are some of the best known figures in the reform movement.

They include President Khatami's brother, Mohammed Reza Khatami, who heads the biggest reform party and is also deputy speaker of parliament.

[knighthawk]

Ping

[knighthawk]

Iran: Khatami appeals for calm after mass parliamentary disqualifications

Text of report in English by Iranian news agency IRNA

Tehran, 11 January: President Mohammad Khatami pledged Sunday [11 January] to tap legal channels as it emerged that a large number of hopefuls, including many incumbent MPs, had been barred from standing in February's parliamentary election.

"I do not agree with this way of disqualifications and I will use legal channels to deal with this issue, which I hope will bear fruit," he told reporters after a cabinet session.

"I think what has happened contradicts the view of the Supreme Leader (Ayatollah Ali Khamene'i)," he said before adding, "we must always be worried about the public dissatisfaction and God willing, the Guardian Council will make amends".

Khatami appealed on all political groups to stay calm and move in the framework of the law and avoid doing anything which may lead to tensions.

"Majlis (parliament) shows sensitivity towards the country's fate and this is natural, but I advise (the MPs) to remain calm and God willing, we will manage to resolve the problem through peaceful means," he said.

"Any action which may create tensions must be avoided and instead ways which help the protests bear fruit must be explored," Khatami added.

Source: IRNA news agency

http://www.monitor.bbc.co.uk/nfnews.shtml#first

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[boomop1]

The height of fascism has been reached.

[facedown]

They include President Khatami's brother, Mohammed Reza Khatami, who heads the biggest reform party and is also deputy speaker of parliament.

This could get interesting, even biblical.

[goldstategop]

In Iran "elections" are a facade for the mullahs. And even if "reformists" by chance do get elected, the mullahs sit on the Islamic Guardians Council, an unelected body that has the power to rule legislation that threatens their interests "unconstitutional." In Iran, power is not with the people and their elected representatives. It is with the mullahs who claim to rule by divine right on behalf of God.

[sgtbono2002]

Acts like this only foster Revolution. They are digging their own graves.

[GOPJ]

Inching toward the match that lights freedom's revolution...

They include President Khatami's brother, Mohammed Reza Khatami, who heads the biggest reform party and is also deputy speaker of parliament.