Lawmakers quit en masse
The week's news at a glance.
Tehran
More than one-third of Iran’s parliament resigned this week to protest the ruling clerics’ attempt to control the upcoming election. Last month the Guardian Council, a group of 12 mullahs that has the final word on all laws and regulations, barred most pro-reform candidates, including 83 incumbents, from running for parliament. Outraged reformist lawmakers called for the election, scheduled for Feb. 20, to be postponed. Mohammad Reza Khatami, the brother of Iranian President Mohammad Khatami and one of the banned candidates, said that elections under the current circumstances would amount to “a full-fledged coup.”
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to 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.
-
Selfies ban in art galleries: a sign of the times?
Talking Point Priceless art has been damaged by visitors desperate to take a snap with star attractions, leading some galleries and museums to start fighting back
-
Quiz of The Week: 21 – 27 June
Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
-
The Week Unwrapped: How do you turn plastics into paracetamol?
Podcast Plus, what is the Wagner Group doing now? And why is it so hard to find a job after university?