Opinion, August 2003, www.aljazeerah.info
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Setbacks mount as Khatami endures
Gulf News
25-08-2003
In what is the third body blow to his reformist agenda within a fortnight, Iranian President Mohammed Khatami has accepted the resignation of a key cabinet ally. Higher Education Minister Mostafa Moin's resignation is directly linked to the authorities' crackdown of July's student-led pro-democracy protests.
Moin's complaint that he lacked the authority to effect change is something all of Iran's reformers are living with, including Khatami himself, even as they stay the course in the face of continual opposition from religious hardliners.
Just ten days ago, Iran's watchdog body, the Guardian Council, rejected three reform bills put forward by Khatami. One of the bills, on electoral reform, was crucial as it would have abolished the council's right to weed out candidates for elections. Reformists wanted to end its screening of candidates before crucial legislative elections early next year and presidential polls in 2005.
The bill is seen increasingly as a last-ditch attempt to assert Khatami's embattled position. It was also this setback that triggered Khatami's call for the formation of political parties to solve Iran's political ambiguities. Khatami has shown admirable political acumen and near-infinite patience in his attempt to placate both camps even as he stays true to his vision of bringing "Islamic democracy" to Iran.
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| Earth, a planet hungry for peace |
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| The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers (Ran Cohen, pmc, 5/24/03). |
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| The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers in the West Bank (Ran Cohen, pmc, 5/24/03). |
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