Iran opens up presidency to women

[emad]

BBC

Iranian women are free to stand for the presidency, an electoral watchdog says.

The hardline Guardian Council said women can contest high office if they "possess the necessary qualifications", overturning an existing bar.

The Islamic republic is set to hold presidential elections in June but it is not known yet if any women will run.

Iranian law states the president must be one of the political "rejal" - an ambiguous term that can be interpreted to mean "men" or "personalities".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4197889.stm

[roenyc]

1. Freedom is on the march!

Bush better go there fast before they actually make it work.

[Vidar]

2. Good for Iran.

[bemildred]

3. So, who gets a female President first, the USA or Iran?

My money is on Iran, FWIW.

[rodeodance]

4. but who hold the real power in Iran-is the question

[bemildred]

5. And who holds the real power in the USA?

Is that a question too? Or are we not supposed to go there?

[leesa]

7. Me too. The US has GOT to be one of the most backward countries

there is concerning women in positions of true power.

[Redstone]

6. if they "possess the necessary qualifications"

Including, presumably, a complete inability to speak.

Folks, let's not kid ourselves about the people in charge in Iran. They're not quite the type of men who whould support an Iranian version of the Equal Rights Amendment.

They're real bastards about how women are treated, and many other aspects of how they control society as well. Not nice people at all.

Even with all the problems in America, is there anyone here who has a strong desire to go live in Iran? Anyone? Didn't think so.

Not that this means that America has any right to dictate to them what kind of government they should have, or invade them, or bomb them, or do anything except leave them alone.

Redstone

[radric]

8. As I recall a candidate is not allowed to even stand for..

office in Iran until the hard-liners approve of him/her. There was just a story in the past year of many moderate candidates not being allowed to run for office because they weren't approved. I wouldn't go patting Iran on the back just yet..

[UL_Approved]

9. Total irony

Iran is actually moving toward new civil liberties, while the United States is moving away from them. This is hilarious and sickening at the same time.