More Women than Clerics

Cartoon: Kianoush Ramezani

After extensive efforts by women's rights activists and other groups to increase female representation in the Majles, a total of 17 women* were elected to the Tenth Majles, which is the highest number of women in Iran's parliament since the Islamic Revolution. Interestingly, the Tenth Majles will feature more women than clerics, also a first.

Despite this progress, Iran still lags behind many countries, including its regional counterparts, in electing women to parliament.

Related resources:

• Dynamic infographic: The percentage of women in national parliaments across the MENA region between 2000 & 2012
• Nabz-Nameh March 2016: How Social Networks Reflect Women’s Voices around Elections

*It would have been 18, but Minoo Khaleghi, who was elected to the Majles from Isfahan, had her credentials retroactively rejected by the Guardian Council.