TEHRAN -- An Iranian political expert has criticized calls by some public figures for referendums on major state policies, saying the government can’t hold referendums on core values of the constitution.
Muhammad Javad Larijani, a former senior diplomat, said the Iranian law allows for referendums, but they can be held on issues of secondary importance, like whether the country can have a prime minister or not.
Such plebiscites can’t be held on key principles like the Sharia law or democracy, he said.
“We can’t hold referendums on Islam. For example a group might ask for referendums on whether to implement some parts of Sharia or not. That’s against the constitution and this issue can’t be put to referendum,” he said.
“Also we can’t hold referendums on the country’s independence. Independence is one of the pillars of the constitution,” Larijani told Khamenei.ir in an interview.
His remarks come in the wake of recent calls for referendums on major state policies, with a former president suggesting such votes can be held to ease divisions inside the country.
Iran’s Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei touched on those calls during a meeting with university students earlier this month, saying many sensitive issues can’t be put to referendum and there’s no similar precedence in other countries.
“Where in the world do they do this?