Iran - a Land of Paradoxes: “Because elections to the Majlis (Parliament) and the Presidency are contested, they are meaningful. It is, for example, clear that President Khattami was elected with the support of women and younger people, and the ‘establishment’ candidate was not elected. There is nothing like this in any Arab country: In Egypt or Syria (just as in Belarus) there is virtually only one candidate, and he receives between 97-98% of the vote.”

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