Shabtabnews In this dark night, I have lost my way – Arise from a corner, oh you the star of guidance.
Iranwire – Iran’s former Justice Minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi has been disqualified from running in the upcoming election for the Assembly of Experts, a chamber of theologians that appoints the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader and oversees his work.
The Borna news agency reported the news on January 25, a day after former President Hassan Rouhani was barred from standing again in the March 1 election.
The decisions to ban the two men were made by the Guardians Council, a hard-line body that vets candidates in all elections in Iran.
The new Assembly of Experts is expected to play a significant role in choosing the successor of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, 84, since its members are only elected every eight years.
Pourmohammadi, as a member of the “death committee” in Tehran in the 1980s, was involved in the extrajudicial executions of thousands of dissidents.
He was minister of justice in 2013-2017, and currently serves as secretary of the Supreme Council of the Combatant Clergy Association, a hardline political movement.
Iranian registered voters will be called to polling stations on March 1 to choose among thousands of candidates running for seats in the 290-seat parliament and the 88-member Assembly of Experts.
A low turnout is expected, with the Guardian Council having already disqualified approximately half of the hopeful candidates in both elections.
