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Senior Iranian Clerics Oppose Nominations of Women Ministers
Reuters - 23 August, 2009
Some
senior clerics want Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to reconsider the
nomination of three women as ministers in his new government, a conservative
lawmaker was quoted as saying yesterday.
The comments by Mohammad-Taqi Rahbar, who heads the clerics’ faction in the
assembly, further underlined the difficulties the hardline president could face
in securing parliamentary support for his proposed cabinet line-up.
The outcome will be a test of Ahmadinejad’s hold on power after his disputed
re-election in June led to the worst unrest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution
and exposed establishment divisions. At least 26 people were killed in street
protests.
Parliament must approve his ministerial candidates and vice speaker Mohammad
Reza Bahonar has already warned that members of the 21-strong cabinet risk
being voted down.
Another senior deputy, the head of parliament’s energy commission, expressed
concern about the proposed oil minister’s qualifications and warned of
“irreversible damage” to the industry, a newspaper reported on Saturday.
The legislature is dominated by conservatives, but some of Ahmadinejad’s
backers have abandoned him since the election, even though he enjoys the
backing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s highest authority.
Moderates see Ahmadinejad’s next government as illegitimate.
The president’s cabinet list, submitted to parliament on Wednesday, has also
created controversy abroad.
Argentina’s Foreign Ministry condemned the nomination of Ahmad Vahidi as
defence minister, saying it was “an affront to the victims” of a 1994 attack on
a Jewish centre in Buenos Aires in which 85 people died.
Argentina accuses Vahidi of involvement in planning the attack. Iran has
repeatedly denied any link to the bombing. Vahidi is deputy defence minister in
the outgoing government.
Ahmadinejad also nominated women as ministers for health, social welfare and
education — the first female ministers in the conservative Islamic Republic.
But Rahbar said many senior clerics “have doubts about choosing female
ministers and want Ahmadinejad to reconsider,” Iran’s English-language Press TV
reported on its website.
Rahbar cited “religious uncertainties surrounding the limits of women’s
abilities and their management”.
Friday prayer leaders in the cities of Mashhad and Isfahan also criticised the
choice of women ministers, Press TV said.
The move appeared to be an attempt by Ahmadinejad to boost support among women.
But one rights activist said the nominees were conservatives and unlikely to
promote female rights.
Ahmadinejad’s moderate opponents campaigned ahead of the June election on the
need to enhance women’s position in Iran.
Campaigners say Iranian women face institutionalised discrimination, for
example in divorce and child custody.
In another surprise nomination, Ahmadinejad put forward current Commerce
Minister Massoud Mirkazemi as new oil minister, a key post as Iran is the
world’s fifth-largest crude exporter.
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