It's Still Just a Monkey...

Over the years I have listened to analysts speak of the relative democratic merit of one Iranian candidate over another. "Khatami was better than Ali Akbar Nategh-Nouri" and now "Mir Hossein Mousavi is better than Ahmadinejad." Some of these analysts point out the relatively high turn out for Majlis (parliamentary) elections as indications of a democratic streak within Iran's Islamic government. But, they fail to discuss essential details of the Iranian "democratic process" that render it an empty sham.

One prime example is the 12 man Guardian Council of the Constitution. has the power to veto all "un-Islamic" laws passed by the democratically elected Majlis (parliament). According to the Human Rights Watch, it has "repeatedly vetoes bills in favor of women’s rights, electoral reform, the prohibition of torture and ratification of international human rights treaties." And perhaps more importantly, it has the power to disqualify any presidential or parliamentary candidates that do not have "sufficient Islamic credentials." According to the Human Rights Watch, "after conservative candidates fared poorly in the 2000 parliamentary elections, the Council disqualified more than 3,600 reformist and independent candidates in the 2004 elections."

So, who comprises the 12 members of the Guardian Council of the Constitution?
Six members of the Council are clerics selected by the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khameni. The other six are lawyers chosen by the head of the judiciary system, who is chosen by Ali Khameni. So, obviously the real power in Iran is the unelected, deeply reactionary Ayatollah Ali Khameni. And it gets worse. According to the constitution, the basis of the authority of the Islamic Republic is the Velayat-e Faqih, the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists. Or, in plain English, the government rules on behalf of the hidden Shi'a Imam until he returns.

So, in a sense the elections do a great diservice to Iran, because they present a democratic fascde for a deeply authoritarian, theocratic government. Relative to Ahmedinejad, Mousavi may present a more humane appearance, but at its core the system is illegitamate. You can put make up and pearls on a monkey, but it will still be a monkey.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guardian_Council

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guardianship_of_the_Islamic_Jurists