Qom, Feb 24, IRNA � Religious leaders (Islamic Jurisprudents) on Wednesday called on Iranian nation to take part in elections due to be held on February 26 for the parliament and Assembly of Experts.


Grand Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi, Ayatollah Hossein Nuri Hamedani, Ayatollah Jafar Sohbani, Ayatollah Abdollah Javadi Amoli and Grand Ayatollah Seyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini Alavi Gorgani in separate statements and speeches called for higher voter turn out in the event.

Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi said in his statement, 'As the Bahman 22 rallies trembled the enemy, we should once again shake the enemy in the February 26 elections once again.'

He said participation in the elections is a religious, social, moral and political duty.

Ayatollah Nuri Hamedani said all those legally eligible to vote should take part in the event out of religious, national and social duty.
He said one of the big tests ahead is the Experts Assembly and parliamentary elections, which is of high importance worldwide and based on statistics, 54 million people in Iran are eligible to vote.

'So, it is necessary for us to show our majesty and vigilance worldwide and all Iranian people should take part in the elections and any one eligible to vote should take part in the elections. Participation in the elections is the duty of all and as religion is not separate from politics, it covers a wide scope stretching to the political, cultural and economic domains.'

Ayatollah Sobhani said based on Quranic injunctions, those should be elected who are powerful in ideological and practical terms; they should truly believe in fundamentals of Islam and not to be deceived by others, being capable of making constructive plans.'

He said the Friday elections are destiny making and hoped that the elections will be held gloriously like former elections.
Ayatollah Amoli said all people should attend the elections and send those to the Experts Assembly and the parliament who are clean in whatever terms.

Ayatollah Gorgani said Iranian nation should take part in the elections more gloriously than before.

He said participation in the elections is a national and religious duty and election of the faithful and committed and those caring for Islam and the country is a yet graver duty.

Elections for the 10th term of the Parliament as well as the 5th term of the Assembly of Experts will take place simultaneously on February 26.

By IRNA