Iranian presidential election, 1997

Iranian presidential election of 1997 took place on May 23, 1997, which resulted in an unpredicted win for the reformist candidate Mohammad Khatami.

Barring candidates

The Council of Guardians blocked 234 candidates from running for the presidency because they lacked the religious and political qualifications [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=/archive/1997/05/24/wiran24.html Calls for reform grow louder as Iran goes to polls] 24 May 1997] [ [http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-rubin031802.shtml Iran’s Myth of Moderation] 18 March 2002] . Only four candidates were permitted to run for office.

Issues

The candidates were asked about their opinion on the fatwa against Salman Rushdie. Ali Akbar Nateq-Nouri said that any "a good Muslim" would carry out the fatwa [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=/archive/1997/05/22/wiran122.html Rushdie key issue in Iran election] 22 May 1997] . Mohammad Khatami avoided the issue. Mohammad Khatami's supporters called Nateq-Nouri the "Taliban" of Iran [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=/archive/1997/05/22/wiran22.html Election farce as Iran chooses its president] 22 May 1997] .

Mohammad Khatami expressed support for the easing Islamic regulations "from women's dress to whether TV satellite dishes should be allowed." [ [http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9705/19/iran.elex/index.html CNN - Iranians look for economic help from Friday's election - May 19, 1997 ] ]

Results

ee also

*Iranian presidential election, 2001

References and notes

External links

* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml;jsessionid=GQHMBXCUVG40HQFIQMFSFF4AVCBQ0IV0?html=/archive/1997/05/25/wiran25.html Moderate triumphs in Iranian elections]
* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/core/Content/displayPrintable.jhtml?xml=/news/campaigns/iran/irankey.xml&site=5&page=0#3 Mohammad Khatami's background]
* [http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9705/iran.elex/background.html?eref=sitesearch Iran Elections: An Overview]