Iran Council Rejects Reforms

Iran’s hard-line watchdog body has rejected legislation aimed at guaranteeing public trials by jury for government critics and protecting the rights of political prisoners, newspapers reported Thursday.

The Guardian Council, whose oversight role is intended to ensure that statutes do not violate the Iranian Constitution or Islamic law, rejected the “political crime” bill approved by parliament in late May, the government-owned daily Iran reported.

The council, which must approve all bills before they become law, sent the bill back to parliament for another vote.