IRAN* The Islamic Republic of Iran, with a population of ...

IRAN
two provinces showing a turnout of more than 100 percent and the absence of
longstanding regional variations in turnout, which appeared abnormal despite
regulations that allow Iranians to vote at any polling station. According to official
government data, President Ahmadi-Nejad took not only all former conservative
voters, all former centrist voters, and all new voters, but also up to 44 percent of
former reformist voters, a scenario analysts questioned.
The constitution allows for the formation of political parties, although the Interior
Ministry granted licenses only to parties with ideological and practical adherence
to the system of government embodied in the constitution. There were more than
240 registered political organizations that generally operated without restriction or
outside interference, but most were small entities, often focused around an
individual, and did not have nationwide membership. Members of political parties
and individuals with any political affiliation that the government deemed
unacceptable faced harassment, violence, and sometimes imprisonment.
In 2009 both former presidential candidates experienced raids on their homes and
offices. Specifically, in early September militants believed to be connected to the
government repeatedly targeted the home of former presidential candidate Mehdi
Karroubi in consecutive evening attacks. On September 16, security forces raided
the office of former presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi.
In March Minister of Science, Research, and Technology Kamrn Daneshjoo said
that only those who have proven commitment to Islam and the "rule of the
jurisprudent" (velayat-e-faghih) can teach or study at universities, and during the
year the government continued to dismiss professors and ban students from higher
education institutions based on their political affiliations or actions. According to
the ICHRI, university officials dismissed or forced the retirement of at least 50
university faculty members during the year for their affiliation or support of the
Green Movement. For example, in August the Ministry of Science suddenly
dismissed Yousef Sobouti, head of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic
Sciences in Zanjan Province, allegedly for political reasons, and replaced him with
a scientist reportedly known to have links with the Basij militia. Following calls
for an investigation into the dismissals and retirements, various members of the
parliament called for a review; however, at year's end, no formal investigation had
been launched.
The two leading reformist political parties, Islamic Iran Participation Front and the
Islamic Revolution Mujahedin Organization, were banned in September.
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