Tehran
Iran’s hard-line Guardian Council ruled this week that thousands of pro-democracy candidates were not eligible to run in parliamentary elections next month. The barred candidates, half of the more than 8,000 people running for 290 seats, include dozens of current members of parliament and the head of the largest political party. Reformist lawmakers protested at a sit-in in parliament, and the Cabinet of moderate President Mohammad Khatami threatened to resign. Khatami said the government would appeal the decisions, adding, “God willing, the Guardian Council will make amends.” The 12-member council, handpicked by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been trying to block reforms ever since moderates swept the parliamentary elections in 2000.
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