Omid Memarian
o.memarian@roozonline.com
Dr Gholam Abbas Tavassoli, sociology professor at Tehran University and a member of the opposition group Iran Freedom Movement told Rooz in an exclusive interview that “Elections in Iran are gradually becoming merely a ceremonial event, rather than real elections.” Here are the excerpts.
Rooz (R): How do you see the outcome of the elections after the massive disqualifications?
Gholam Abbas Tavassoli (GAT): I do not think this type of disqualification is becoming of any free elections. All kinds of people and groups must have the freedom to participate in the elections and must have access to mass media and the radio and television networks for this. The absence of different voices in newspapers is troublesome for institutionalizing the democratic foundations in the country.
R: How do compare the process of approving the qualifications of the candidates to the seventh and eight Majlis?
GAT: The number of disqualifications for the next Majlis is far greater than those that took place in the last Majlis elections.
R: What will be the impact of a uniform Majlis, on the parliament itself and on the public?
GAT: Uniformity in the Majlis will mean that there will be no opposition voices in which cases because other voices will not be heard, corruption in the government will not be checked. The basis of democracy is the presence of opposition groups and those who have views that are different from those in power. If things continue as they have been, then in the future elections will merely be a ceremonial event, rather than real elections. In other words elections will become merely a ceremonial event that people go to once every few years to vote, without really impacting the relationships of power.
R: What will be the damage on society and political activists who believe in the free movement of the elite to solve [national] problems?
GAT: The elite cannot work under such conditions. We see that the principal reformist groups have not been able to present their candidates to the public, and their candidates have been rejected. Basis the acceptance or rejection of candidates on political rather than legal grounds creates a problem. Such measures are contrary to democracy.
