Ah... such a disappointment.
Iran is one of the only democratic countries in the middle east. It's not democracy I'd care to live in, but one the religious right would love. Basically, there's a "council" that says who may or may not run for office. Of course, this council is composed of Islamic clerics (no, they don't complete heal!) and they only let people run for office that uphold their Islamic beliefs.
So, pretty much, they dismissed enmasse over 3000 candidates who were running on the reform ticket. Even current seat holding members of parliment were being told, "Nope, you don't uphold the Islamic principles enough. You can't run again." Obviously the clerics don't want no reforming!
So the Prime Minister threatened to quit, then all the govenors and other large segments of the government threatened to quit if the clerics on this council didn't examine each and every candidate individually, rather than just dismiss them because of their political party.
Can you imagine your government resigning on one day? Whee!
Anyway, very disappointed they didn't follow up with it. But perhaps it is for the best. The Guardian Counsil might've decided to cease control of the entire works and Iran would have sunken deeper into a middle ages theocracy with less hope of digging their way out.
Iran is one of the only democratic countries in the middle east. It's not democracy I'd care to live in, but one the religious right would love. Basically, there's a "council" that says who may or may not run for office. Of course, this council is composed of Islamic clerics (no, they don't complete heal!) and they only let people run for office that uphold their Islamic beliefs.
So, pretty much, they dismissed enmasse over 3000 candidates who were running on the reform ticket. Even current seat holding members of parliment were being told, "Nope, you don't uphold the Islamic principles enough. You can't run again." Obviously the clerics don't want no reforming!
So the Prime Minister threatened to quit, then all the govenors and other large segments of the government threatened to quit if the clerics on this council didn't examine each and every candidate individually, rather than just dismiss them because of their political party.
Can you imagine your government resigning on one day? Whee!
Anyway, very disappointed they didn't follow up with it. But perhaps it is for the best. The Guardian Counsil might've decided to cease control of the entire works and Iran would have sunken deeper into a middle ages theocracy with less hope of digging their way out.
Panamah's Pet Peeve: It's incoming, not incomming!
