The Society of Seminary Teachers and Researchers of Qom, a reformist organization, has called on former presidents Mohammad Khatami and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani to run in the coming presidential election.
The Kaleme website reports that the society of reformist clerics issued a statement on Wednesday March 13, saying: “In view of the current national situation, the presence of strong and popular figures in the presidential election is their historical responsibility and calling vis-a-vis the people.”
The group calls on “society's elite, the seminaries, the universities, executives, tradespeople, Bazaar Businesses, groups and organizations” to endorse figures such as Khatami and Hashemi so they might “attract a firm majority among the people and bring popular forces into the arena to offer a viable presidential choice.”
Mostafa Tajzadeh, a major reformist thinker who is currently serving a prison term for his involvement in the last presidential election, has also called on Hashemi and Khatami to join the presidential race.
Mohammad Khatami announced earlier that reformists have a plan to save the country, adding that he is not so concerned about his own presence in the race as there are many able reformist figures that could be chosen to run. Khatami maintained that he will respect the choice of the reformist collective.
The Society of Seminary Teachers and Researchers of Qom writes: “People’s participation in the coming presidential election will be a worthy response to sanctions and warmongering as well as a large step toward peace, international cooperation and a presence on the global scene.”
Iran will hold presidential elections in June of 2013.
