Female Iranian Presidential Candidate, Raf'at Bayat: Article 12 of the Constitution Guarantees Equal Rights to Women

The following are excerpts from a report about female Iranian presidential candidate Raf'at Bayat. Channel 2 of the Iranian TV aired this report on May 3, 2005.

Presenter: Raf'at Bayat, who plans to run for the presidency, said to reporters today: "My candidacy is not meant to confront the Guardian Council."

Raf'at Bayat: The Guardian Council is the main interpreter of the constitution. According to the 12th article of the constitution, men and women have equal rights in political, economic, social, and cultural issues. The Guardian Council has not yet officially stated that women cannot be candidates.

In my opinion, if the Guardian Council considers any person, whether a man or a woman, to be suitable, it will not object. I am sure that the Guardian Council wants what's best for the country, for its development, and progress.

Presenter: Of course, Bayat said: "If the Guardian Council rejects my candidacy, I will accept it."