IHT - Liberal candidates are barred in Iran

[Bozita]

Liberal candidates are barred in Iran
Nazila Fathi/NYT NYT
Monday, January 12, 2004

Khatami vows to fight 'senseless' ruling
 
TEHRAN Dozens of reformist lawmakers held a sit-in protest at the Parliament building Sunday after a watchdog group barred thousands of liberal candidates — including more than 80 members of the current Parliament — from running in parliamentary elections next month.

The Guardian Council disqualified nearly half of 8,200 candidates who had registered to run for 290 seats in the elections on Feb. 20.

‘‘I do not agree with this rejection of candidates, but we must react through legal channels and calmly,’’ President Mohammad Khatami said after a cabinet meeting, adding: ‘‘I hope these legal means will solve the problem. We are not at a stalemate yet.’’

The Guardian Council has always had the power to block candidates, but this time the rulings are so sweeping that potential reform candidates are fighting back in a way that could jeopardize the election itself.

more...

http://www.iht.com/articles/124553.html

[Bozita]

1. So, ... how long until we see this filtering here?

The ever holy Reverends Robertson and Falwell will oversee the judging.