There have been numerous reports that the Guardian Council did not provide any substantiated
reasons for disqualifying many of the parliamentary candidates, and that the confirmation of
qualifications was arbitrary and inappropriate.19 As a party to the International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights (ICCPR), Iran is obligated to allow its citizens equal opportunity to compete
as candidates in elections without being subject to “unreasonable restrictions.” The ICCPR
requires elections to guarantee the “free expression of the will of the electors”20 and no
distinction may be made as to the enjoyment of rights afforded by Article 25 on the basis of,
inter alia, religion, political or other opinion or status.21
Women face resistance in political participation from the Guardian Council, which has a record
of disqualifying female and reformist candidates arbitrarily. As of the time of writing, the last
Parliamentary elections were held in 208 precincts, for 290 seats on 21 February 21st 2020.
During this election, a total of 16,033 candidates were registered, 12% of whom were women.
During the review of qualifications by in the Executive Boards, a total of 13,849 candidates were
approved, of whom about 91% were registered.22 Out of the registered candidates, the
Supervisory Board and the Council of Guardians approved 7,157 individuals who were allowed
to run. Of these, only 782 are women.23 Prior to parliamentary elections in 2016, the Guardian
Council “disqualified 98 per cent of female candidates in the major city of Shiraz, 20 out of 24
female candidates in Markazi, and all the female candidates in the large port city of Abadan.”24
Women who attempt to run in the presidential election are usually disqualified by the Guardian
Council and therefore ineligible to run. In the 2017 presidential election, 137 female candidates
registered, and all were disqualified by the Guardian Council.25
The Guardian Council vetted out most of the “reformist” and “opposition” candidates around the
country.26 As a result of these disqualifications, the coalition of “reformist” groups and activists
were not able to run for at least 208 of the 290 seats in parliament, yet still won some seats.27 28
About 160 of the seats were filled by conservative candidates with little to no competition due to
the disqualification of most candidates from other political camps.
A candidate can appeal their disqualification to the Guardian Council in writing.29 If the Central
Supervisory Board disqualifies a candidate that had been approved by the voting district’s
19
< https://www.plus.irna.ir/news/83638282/ > (Persian)
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights < https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/ccpr.aspx >
21
Human Rights Committee General Comment No. 25 (CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.7)
22
IRNA: < www.irna.ir/news/83599847/ > (Persian)
23
The full list of candidates: < https://www.moi.ir/fa/اﺧﺒﺎر/133325 > (Persian)
24
Minority Rights Group https://minorityrights.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/MRG_CFR_Iran_EN_Sept191.pdf at 12
25
Minority Rights Group https://minorityrights.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/MRG_CFR_Iran_EN_Sept191.pdf at 13.
26
< https://modara.ir/?p=99015 > (Persian)
27
Hamshahri Newspaper < /www.hamshahrionline.ir/news/483992/ > (Persian)
28
Hamshahri Newspaper < /www.hamshahrionline.ir/news/484127/ > (Persian)
29
Article 52, note 2, of the Islamic Parliament Elections Law
20
3