Iran’s Parliamentary Vote: The Beginning of the End of Ahmadinejad
Cross-posted from Huffington Post: Last Friday, Iran held its first elections since the controversial 2009 presidential contest, after which millions of voters poured into streets of Tehran. Unrest following the announced re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad culminated in mass detention, torture and the death of many protesters. It also led to the near-elimination of pro-reform […]
A Majlis of the IRGC, by the IRGC, and for the IRGC
The recent battle over Azad University and its assets is not only a sign of a growing division in Iran’s hardliners. If one looks more closely, the growing importance of the IRGC in Iranian politics is also becoming clearer. Originally created by Ayatollah Khomeini to be the Supreme Leader’s personal militia, the IRGC acts […]
Iran’s Hardliners Continue Splitting
Tensions are boiling in Iran’s parliament over the government’s demand to take control over the assets of Azad University, which amounts to over $200 billion. This feud between the parliament and Ahmadinejad’s administration reflects the ongoing battles between the camps of Rafsanjani and Ahmadinejad. (Azad University was one of the most successful pet projects and […]
18 Cabinet nominees approved by Majlis
Iran’s Majlis approved 18 votes of confidence for President Ahmadinejad’s 21-member Cabinet on Thursday. Although, it was expected that at least 1/3 of the nominees would not receive a vote of confidence because of rumors of “disqualification,” it is said that the Speaker of Majlis (Ali Larijani) informed the Representatives of the Supreme Leader’s desire […]
Final day of Ahmadinejad’s cabinet debate
From Press TV: Iran’s Parliament has begun the final day of consecutive debates on reviewing the credentials of the eight remaining ministers proposed by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Debates on President Ahmadinejad’s 21-member Cabinet line-up began on Sunday with hot discussions by lawmakers speaking for and against the proposed nominees. During Majlis session on Wednesday, the […]
Majles Representative Admits Widespread Sexual Molestation Using Objects
Breaking news from the Majles Reformist news site, Parleman News (h/t New York Times): One of the members of the Special Committee on Reviewing the Conditions of Post-Election Prisoners has admitted that, “Sexual molestation using batons and glass bottles against some of the post-election prisoners has become widespread.” “Unfortunately, some of the post-election prisoners have […]