Iran opens the door for women presidential candidates

Guardian Council spokesman in Iran, Abbas Ali Kadkhoda'i , announced in a press conference held last Saturday that there are no objections for women to submit their candidacy for the presidential elections.  He noted that the said Council which is entrusted with reviewing the eligibility of candidates as well as interpreting controversial clauses, will review this matter and will give an informed opinion.  To be noted that the Council had rejected women's presidential candidacy before and since the coming to power of the Islamic revolution of 1979.  To be noted,Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the president of Discernment Council of the System, who  died in 8 January, had announced last November that Clause 115 of the Constitution which states that the president has to be a political man, also includes women in this position.  He added that when the Constitution was written in 1979, this clause was left obscure because the situation back then did not allow women to take on the role of president.  However, he added, this clause does not forbid women from becoming President of the Republic. (Al- Diyar, 16 January 2017)