UPDATE ~ Iran reinstates two reformists in presidential election News
UPDATE ~ Iran reinstates two reformists in presidential election

[JURIST] Upon reconsidering [JURIST report] its former ban [JURIST report] on reformist candidates, Iran's Guardian Council [Wikipedia entry] has now officially reinstated former higher education minister Mostafa Moin [Wikipedia entry] and incumbent Vice President Mohsen Mehr-Alizadeh as candidates in the June 17 presidential elections. Moin, an outspoken reformist, has promised to tackle human rights abuses if elected. Mehr-Alizadeh, however, is not considered to be a serious contender for the presidency. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei [Wikipedia profile], who has authority over all matters political and spiritual in Iran, cited the necessity of a broad range of candidates to ensure a high voter turnout and ordered the council to change its mind. Reuters has more. BBC News provides additional coverage.

THIS DAY @ LAW

South Africa becomes first country on continent to legalize same-sex marriage

Same-sex marriages became legal in South Africa on November 30, 2006 as the country's Civil Union Act, 2006 went into effect, making South Africa the only country on the African continent to legalize same-sex marriage. Read the Civil Union Act, 2006.