Iran Bars Two Contenders From Presidential Race

The World

Two well-known candidates who had submitted their registration papers for Iran's June presidential election won't be on the ballot. That includes former President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, and current President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's former Chief of Staff, Rahim Mashai. Iranian journalist Shirin Jafaari says the decision might mean that some Iranians stay away from the polls. "I'm already hearing people saying, 'Well we are not going to vote this year. What's the point of voting when everyone is carefully selected?'" Jafaari says. "There's not a lot of choice right now."

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