Former Iranian MP Zahra Ilahian has submitted her candidacy papers for the presidency, challenging the ban on women running for the position. The registration period for candidates began on Thursday and will last for five days, after which the Guardian Council will review the applications. An election official stated that 17 candidates had registered since the start of the process on Thursday for the elections scheduled for June 28.
Moderate politicians have accused the 12-member council of excluding candidates who might rival the conservatives who are expected to dominate the presidential race.
Who is she?
Ilahian, a former conservative member of the Iranian parliament, declared during her candidacy announcement that her slogan would be "Healthy Government, Healthy Economy, Healthy Society." The Guardian Council had previously ruled in past elections that "Islamic laws in Iran prevent women from holding the presidency." Ilahian emphasized, according to statements reported by Iranian media on Saturday, that her government would "seriously address political and social freedoms," noting that she would "rely on youth to succeed in governmental tasks."
She continued, "I entered the electoral arena with a new perspective focused on identifying problems and proposing necessary solutions. I believe that with the help of youth, we can create many opportunities in the country." Ilahian is a doctor and a former member of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of parliament, as reported by "Iran International."
Like other Iranian conservatives, Ilahian supports mandatory hijab laws. In March, Canada imposed sanctions on her for supporting the death penalty against protesters involved in the "Women, Life, Freedom" demonstrations. The European Union also sanctioned her for the same reason. Amnesty International reported that Iranian authorities launched "a harsh war on the human rights of women and girls" throughout 2022.
They added, "Despite months of protests against mandatory hijab laws in Iran, sparked by the arbitrary arrest and death in custody of Mahsa Amini, authorities reinstated the morality police and took a range of measures that deprive women and girls challenging the mandatory hijab of their rights." In response to these sanctions and generally to sanctions against Tehran, Ilahian said, according to the Mehr news agency: "Sanctions have no effect on them... these sanctions have become normal for the people of Iran and hold no value for our people."
Other Candidates
Iran's state television reported on Sunday that former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had registered for the presidential elections. Official Iranian media also mentioned that former Revolutionary Guard commander Vahid Haghaniyan, listed on a U.S. sanctions list, is among those who registered to run for the presidency.
Former parliament speaker Ali Larijani, a prominent conservative, also registered on Friday, as did Abdolnaser Hemmati, a former governor of the central bank. Saeed Jalili, a former chief negotiator on the nuclear file and head of Khamenei's office for four years two decades ago, was the first prominent hardliner to register on Thursday. Iranian media mentioned interim president Mohammad Mokhber as a potential candidate.
