Bids by about 30 women seeking to run in the June 14 Presidential election in Iran can now be laid to rest, as a member of Iran’s constitutional watchdog says women cannot be presidential candidates.
Women in Iran knew how slim their chances were in getting the presidential seat, even before Thursday’s comments by Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi, but change in attitude to women even in very conservative countries like Saudi Arabia might have raised the hope of Iranian women.
Iran’s constitution uses a word denoting only a male president.
The semi-official Mehr news agency quotes Yazdi as saying the “law does not approve” of a woman in Iran’s highest elected office and that this is “not allowed”.
Women, however, have been elected lawmakers and serve in the parliament.
The Guardian Council, where Yazdi is a member, vets all candidates. A total of 686 people have registered to replace President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The final list will be announced next Tuesday
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