The State Department says it supports “free and fair” elections, but it declines to object to news that Iran’s Guardians Council is preventing women from running as candidates in presidential elections in June. Last Friday, AFP reporter Jo Biddle, Reuters reporter Arshad Mohammed and AP reporter Brad Klapper asked State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki to explain why not. The following is from a State Department press-briefing transcript:
QUESTION: Jen, can I change the subject? It would seem that in Iran the Guardians Council, which is vetting the candidates for the upcoming elections next month, have decided and have ruled that women cannot contest, they cannot stand as candidates. I wondered what the United States’ reaction is to that, considering that 50 percent of the population in Iran is women — are women.
MS. PSAKI:
Well, we don’t take positions on any candidates, as you know, and we hope that the upcoming elections will be free, fair and transparent and will represent the will of the Iranian people. So we wouldn’t wade into decisions made by the government. Of course, broadly, we hope that women around the world participate in politics and elected office, but beyond that I don’t think I have anything specific for you.
QUESTION:
Taking the word “fair” — if you’re being fair, it would seem to exclude 50 percent of the population from an election, would already mean that it is not a fair election.
MS. PSAKI: Well, we don’t weigh in on to specific candidates and the candidates that are chosen through the process in Iran. Of course, of course, broadly speaking we do want women to participate in elections around the world and rise up in elected office.
QUESTION:
Just not in Iran?
MS. PSAKI: I’m not suggesting that, Arshad. I’m just suggesting that we leave it to the process that happens in Iran for them to pick their candidates.
QUESTION:
But I mean why — it seems astounding that this Department — I mean, what if they decided to exclude, as this country once did, not merely women but black people? Would that be acceptable to you? That’s just their choice; they do it any way they want and you’re not going to stand up for democratic rights?
MS. PSAKI:
I think we pretty broadly stand up for democratic rights from this building.
QUESTION:
Just not for Iranian women, apparently.
MS. PSAKI:
That’s not at all what I was conveying. I think there are two separate issues here. Of course, we want women to participate in processes around the world, whether that is participating in voting or being elected to office. Of course. More specifically, in terms of how candidates are selected, we don’t weigh in on specific candidates, of course, as the government of Iran is picking them. But broadly, yes, we would like women to be participating at every level.
QUESTION:
Including in Iran?
MS. PSAKI: Including around the world.
QUESTION:
But — no but —
QUESTION:
This is not a process. This is a clear case of gender discrimination, no? Isn’t that a difference between a vetting procedure and just saying, “All women no”? I mean, you’ve got to take a stand on something like that.
MS. PSAKI:
Again, Brad, I think I made pretty clear — I don’t know that I have much more to add — that of course we have long supported women being elected to office in the United States and around the world and participating in the process. We want this to be free and fair. There’s a lot of ways to, of course, define that. But again, we don’t select or play a role in selecting who the candidates are. We can take a look through the process; I’m happy to comment once it’s completed.