Dozens of reformist members of Iran's Parliament have criticized the exclusion of hundreds of reformist candidates from the upcoming elections in a letter sent to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. The letter accuses institutions under Ayatollah Khamenei's supervision of depriving the people of their most fundamental right, the right to choose and be chosen. The signatories question whether the Guardian Council obtained permission from the Ayatollah to disqualify candidates and accuse the Guardian Council of conspiring for over two years to disqualify liberal candidates. Legislators believe that delaying the elections was legal. However, Mohammad Khatami, the President of the Islamic Republic, although upset about the disqualifications, stated that the elections would take place on Friday. Shirin Ebadi, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has also criticized the elections, expressing regret over the mass disqualification of candidates. The voting on Friday will determine the fate of 290 parliamentary seats. Voter turnout is expected to be low. Politicians say this situation, along with the exclusion of many reformists, almost certainly means a victory for conservatives.
Letter from Dozens of Reformist Members of Iran's Parliament to the Supreme Leader
Dozens of reformist parliament members criticized the exclusion of reformist candidates from upcoming elections in a letter to Iran's Supreme Leader. They accuse the Guardian Council of depriving citizens of their electoral rights and question its legitimacy. This situation is likely to lead to a conservative victory in the elections.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Dozens of reformist members of Iran's Parliament sent a letter to the Supreme Leader criticizing the exclusion of reformist candidates from upcoming elections. They accuse the Guardian Council of undermining the electoral rights of citizens.
- Hundreds of reformist candidates have been disqualified from the elections.
- The elections will determine the fate of 290 parliamentary seats.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran's political system is characterized by a struggle between reformists, who advocate for change, and conservatives, who resist it. The Guardian Council plays a crucial role in determining which candidates can run for office.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%