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Iran MPs reject Rouhani's nominee for science minister | |
(35 minutes later) | |
The Iranian parliament has rejected the government's choice for science minister, in a new setback for reformist President Hassan Rouhani. | |
Lawmakers voted 160 to 79 against the nomination of Mahmoud Nili-Ahmadabadi. | |
The previous minister was sacked by parliament for what critics claimed were his sympathies to the opposition. | |
President Rouhani was elected last year on promises of greater openness and engagement with the West, but has faced resistance from hardliners. | |
Mr Nili-Ahmadabadi was Mr Rouhani's third nominee for the role of science minister. | |
Members of parliament accused Mr Nili-Ahmadabadi of not distancing himself enough from the mass protests that broke out in 2009 following the disputed re-election of Mr Rouhani's hardline predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. | |
Analysts say the choice is sensitive as the science minister is also responsible for higher education. Universities have been a hotbed of dissent, with students jailed and academics losing their jobs after the 2009 unrest, which the authorities considered a "plot". | |
The previous science minister, Reza Faraji-Dana, angered conservatives with his decision to allow those involved in the protests to return to campuses. | |
Earlier this month, President Rouhani, called for greater academic freedom in universities, arguing that restrictions limited innovation. | |
"We should not be concerned about the expression of diverse views by university professors," he said. | "We should not be concerned about the expression of diverse views by university professors," he said. |
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