(17 Feb 2004)
1. Parliament members sit-in inside the parliament
2. Members sitting around podium
3. Various of people listening
4. SOUNDBITE (Farsi) Dr. Mohsen Armin, reformist member of parliament:
"If we can have representatives that have been elected by the Iranian people, then we can have unity inside the country and a good picture in the world."
5. Armin at podium
6. Journalists
7. Various of letter
8. Street scene
9. Set up shot of Faraanak
10. SOUNDBITE (Farsi) Faraanak (no last name given), university student:
"I''m not going to vote in the election, because I do not believe in the eligibility of the candidates."
11. Faraanak walking away with her guitar over her shoulder
12. Tilt down girl hitting golf ball on driving range
13. Women wearing "Gucci" and "Nike" label caps over their hijabs (headscarves) taking swings
14. Various of golf lesson
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Vox Pop, woman golf player:
"Right now we don''t have any limitations but I think we have to be more free."
16. Various of woman playing golf
17. Set up of music tutor Mehdi Kazeroni
18. SOUNDBITE (Farsi) Mehdi Kazeroni, music tutor
"I''m not going to vote in the coming elections, because of the faulty system of the elections, lack of eligibility existing in the candidates who have been regarded as qualified, and many other social vices and drawbacks which could not be removed just by our choices. I mean the election will not help this country, as we have major and fundamental problems."
19. Kazeroni playing piano
20. SOUNDBITE (Farsi) Mehdi Kazeroni, music tutor
"These candidates have been evaluated as qualified by a system which is not qualified itself, so it is not accepted by me and others, like me."
21. Music sheet
22. Kazeroni''s hands on keyboard
STORYLINE:
Reformist lawmakers in the outgoing Iranian parliament have sent a daring letter to Iran''s supreme leader, accusing him of trampling on freedom and basic rights.
The 100 members of parliament, who include deputy speaker Mohammad Reza Khatami, have sent a letter to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei criticising his support for the disqualification of about 2,400 candidates in the parliamentary elections due to be held on Friday.
It is extremely rare that people publicly criticise Khamenei, who is regarded by his supporters as being incapable of error and answerable only to God.
"The popular (1979) revolution brought freedom and independence for the country in the name of Islam, but now you lead a system in which legitimate freedoms and the rights of the people are being trampled on in the name of Islam," the legislators said in the letter.
"Institutions under your supervision, after four years of humiliating the elected parliament and thwarting (reform) bills, have now deprived the people of the most basic right - the right to choose and be chosen," the letter said.
The letter was sent to Khamenei on Monday, and was not expected to be published in Iranian newspapers.
The disqualifications were carried out by the Guardian Council, whose 12 members are appointed by Khamenei.
President Mohammad Khatami, the elder brother of Reza Khatami, condemned the disqualifications and initially said his government would not hold elections under such conditions.
However, earlier this month, President Khatami bowed to Khamenei''s authority and said the elections would be held, but he warned that the lack of a fair choice would de-motivate people from voting.
In Tehran on Tuesday, some residents said they would not vote because they did not believe in the eligibility of the candidates.
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