Iranian Reformists Predict Their Defeat!

Iranian reformists say that now that the leaders of the reform movement have been barred from participating in the elections, they will certainly face defeat in the upcoming parliamentary elections on Friday. The 'Iran Coalition', a group composed of 8 organizations, announced on Sunday that reformist groups will lose their parliamentary majority in an unequal election. A spokesperson for the coalition also stated that under the current circumstances, even gaining a 'minority' should be considered a type of victory for reformists and a defeat for conservatives. The current political crisis in Iran began last month when the unelected and conservative Guardian Council decided to prevent thousands of applicants from running for parliament. Among those disqualified were 80 current members of parliament. Most reformist organizations and groups have boycotted the elections. The Iranian Ministry of Interior also announced on Sunday that 607 of the approved candidates have withdrawn from the elections. In another event, the Office for Consolidating Unity, which is the main student movement in Iran, criticized President Mohammad Khatami for accepting the prevailing conditions of the parliamentary elections. The Office has called on the public to boycott the elections. Hashem Aghajeri, a jailed university lecturer, also supported the election boycott in a letter from prison, stating that there is no possibility for reforms under the clerical regime.