Tehran
Religious fundamentalists swept Iran’s parliamentary elections this week, after most pro-reform candidates were arbitrarily disqualified from running. “Victory in a competition without rivals is not epic, but a historical fiasco,” said Rasoul Mehrparvar, one of the banned candidates. Turnout was under 50 percent—a record low for the country—as some voters boycotted on principle and others out of disillusionment. Parliament has little real power; even when the reformers dominated the legislature, they were unable to achieve democratic reforms. The body is now in the hands of conservatives who support clerical rule.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.