9th Parliamentary Election and the Most Righteous MP

The Islamic Revolution of Iran gained victory on the 22^nd of Bahman 1357 under the leadership of Imam Khomeini (RA). This revolution is considered as a unique phenomenon among the great movements and revolutions of the world. The most important ideals of this Islamic movement can be known through mottos chanted during the victory of revolution and Imam Khomeini (RA)’s speeches and messages, the ideals which are tangible and observable in different social, economic, cultural, and political areas. The biggest achievement and political ideal of the Islamic revolution was the revival of Islam in the world that preparation of this important goal was provided by the overthrow of the monarchy system and the establishment of a religious and independent government in Iran and presented a new and modern concept from Islam to the liberal people of the world and proposed the revolutionary Islam in a newer form. Today, the wave of Islamic Awakening in the region by modelling Islamic revolution of Iran is in line with forming a new Middle East oriented by Islamic Iran. Administration of the country’s affairs is done based on the people’s vote and public thought and in other words, holding more than 30 elections (selecting type of government, Assembly of Experts, Constitution, Presidency, Islamic Parliament, town and village council) fighting against any hegemony, building up the internal security, removing any autarchy and dictatorship and complete rejection of colonialism, maintaining independency and integrity of territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran, creating relationships with other governments only from peaceful aspect, supporting struggles for justice of oppressed people against arrogant in every places of the world by complete avoidance of any interference in internal affairs of the countries are among political achievements of the Islamic revolution.

Islamic Parliament (the legislative power) is one of the 3 powers of the Islamic Revolution of Iran; 37 articles of the constitution are related to this power. Article No. 71 is about the scope of its authority in order to lay down the law in the suitable level to the constitution. According to this Article, a person who is a candidate for the Islamic Parliament has to be knowledgeable about the modern principles of law and he/she has to be obliged to obey them. Article No. 84 determines each representative’s responsibility towards all people of the country and according to this responsibility, he/she has the right to opine in all affairs and internal and external issues of the country. Hence, the candidate to the Islamic Parliament has to be responsible and he/she has to have a sense of responsibility, and the mentioned article has also determined some duties and obligations and conditions in other principles.

Conditions of Selecting MPs from Imam Khomeini (RA)’s viewpoint

The late Imam Khomeini (RA), in his political and divine will, knows the commitment of Members of Parliament as one of the important issues. Their commitment is to Islam and interests of the country and prevention of any deviation (Alireza Ismaeili Jamkarani, Imam (RA)’s will, page 42).

Conditions of selecting MPs from the late Imam Khomeini (RA)’s viewpoint:

My will to the nation at the present time and in future is to send those candidates to the parliament who are often among the average classes of society and of the deprived, those who are not deviated from the right direction to the East or West, the candidates who do not have tendency to deviated schools and the ones who are educated and knowledgeable about the current issues and Islamic politics. And I state my will to the honourable community of clergymen and especially the grand authorities not to withdraw from society’s issues such as the election of President and Members of the Parliament (the same book, page 43).

An excerpt from Imam Khomeini’s speeches on traits of MPs

Some fear soon!

The parliament should stand against the intimidation and irrationality and alluring of world powers and counts interests of the country and the nation and follow them.

Imam Khomeini (RA) names Modares many times. What characteristics did Modares have? We had more knowledgeable people than Modares. The main characteristic of Modares was that no factor of fear and threat and intimation and deception was effective on him.

At the time that the atmosphere was so frustrated that people were chanting slogans against him, he stood up and said his speech. This is the characteristic of a good Member of Parliament.

Some fear soon! I have repeatedly said that the main role of the arrogant powers – which are the same dominant governments – is that by frightening people repeatedly interfere in other countries and occupy governments and the societies. Their power is not as strong as they mention.

Undoubtedly, regarding their hostility against this revolution and the country, if they had the power, this revolution would never have grown so far and could not remain in its present shape.

(Statements among Hajj agents on 14.02.1990)

Like Modares...

In past times, many of the government officials and MPs of the first two or three periods of Parliament who were indeed a real representative and were elected by people, opposed giving concessions to foreigners-and this was before the time that king Reza intervened in the Parliament.

The real patriotic and national characters were not willing to give concession, however they did not dare to oppose as well. Why they did not dare to oppose to this issue? Because people did not support them and, in fact, they did not have a popular reputation.

Whenever a prime minister wanted to say a word which wasn’t somehow in line with the foreigners’ interests, he was dismissed. Whenever a government official wanted to take a pose and say a word which was likely against giving concessions to the foreigners, he was immediately removed from power!

If someone was as decisive as the late Modares, they would beat him, imprisoned him, exiled him, and then martyred him in Ramadan while he was on fast by a bully such as Reza Khan.

Those government officials who did not have Modares’ courage and faith whenever said a word they have been faced with the foreigners’ proud eyes and they were immediately became silent. Hence, the foreigners’ concessions in Iran increasingly grew.

(Statements in sermon of Friday Prayer on 02.02.1994).

Modares made the parliament popular

Nearly 20 years before the 50-year period, there was constitution in this country and the Parliament which was established at the beginning of the constitution totally worked for 4 periods regarding all the shut downs, obstacles, destructions with artillery.... The history of those parliaments has very wonderful lessons, and all Iranians have to read that history in order to know what the Islamic Republic and the Islamic Revolution have given to this country and this nation. Until we do not know how we have been, we will never know what we have today.

In the early years during which the Parliament was not under the influence of kings, sardars, governments, reigns, and foreign embassies, it had influence over the country’s situation even though it was primary. Wherever there was a little sign of foreign domination, the Parliament resisted with its full strength. At the time of Russia’s ultimatum, the Parliament resisted.

At the time of borrowing from foreigners, the Parliament resisted. At the time of Vosough Dawala’s contract, the Parliament withstood. Those people such as Modares were more and less at that Parliament. Those people that passing of time showed that they can remain like Modares, gave a public position to that Parliament in the light of presence of such independent faithful men as Modares, Khiyabani, and like them.

(Statements of representatives of the Islamic Parliament on 31.05.1994)

Some important features of a candidate for Islamic Parliament

1- An MP has to be among the low class or middle class of society in order to truly feel their pain and know them as his/her own pain and always try to solve their problems.

2- To know the daily affairs and needs of people not only at his/her electorate, but also in all region and country and survey problems and concerns of people and youth, especially the employment issue.

3- A successful MP has to be brave and be able to insist on and resist for rights of people against the government by having courage and strength, and he/she has to sacrifice himself/herself and does not spare any effort and does not afraid of anybody and prefers public interests over his/her interests and wills to cancel his/her right for the progress of society and people.

4- An MP has to be aware of political and Islamic issues. That is, he has to know both the current issues of the society and global issues, and he/she does not have to be apathetic, he/she has to be committed to God’s religion and beliefs.

5- Having relative knowledge regarding the current issues in different economic, cultural, political, and military aspects and understanding all people’s issues and being able to recognize people’s pain and solve their problem.

6- Having enough expertise and skill in one or more majors. That is, he/she has to be a scientist in a subject and has something to say and be able to have a place in the parliament’s commissions and be able to be effective among parliament’s MPs and the government officials and elites of the country.

7- An MP has to be able to do his actual potentials and efficiently make use of his/her art and uses his/her art in favour of the people and the society.

8- If an MP has enough experience, he/she will be more successful. Undoubtedly, experience has priority over science. An MP who is experienced and has experienced the administrative problems and is also skilful and familiar with tools, can try to solve them more easily and when he is experienced, he will be resourceful as well.

9- A successful MP has to be a manager and has to have managerial skills, an MP who has the needed and enough management.

10- Influence and personal character can be among other attributes of a good MP which are effective in more works, especially having correlation with the high rank officials of the country. Many of the problems can be solved by having acquaintance, relation, advice and help and... . A good MP is the one who has a top public relation.

11- Another characteristic of a successful MP is using the experienced, skilful, and elite people and thoughtful youth in his/her electorate. And he/she has to use public thoughts in the emergency situations and make powerful authorities understand the problems.

Public Relation of Qazvin Islamic Development Department

Hojatoleslam Abbas Nazari

Cultural Deputy to General Office of Qazvin IDO

Monday, March 12, 2012 - 12:12