Iranian lawmakers to impeach education minister

The Majlis, the Iranian Parliament, is scheduled to impeach a minister on June 24, a media report said on Wednesday.

Education Minister Ali-Asghar Fani would attend an open session of parliament next Wednesday to answer the legislators' questions, said Parliament First Vice Speaker Mohammad-Reza Bahonar, Press TV reported.

He said that a number of lawmakers withdrew their signatures for the impeachment motion, but added that the Majlis would impeach the minister as the number of the remaining signatures did not drop below 10, which was the minimum number of votes required for impeachment.

The impeachment proceeding against Fani was approved with 64 signatures.

Fani was accused of failing to urge the administration of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to provide schools with necessary resources and to expand educational space in deprived areas.

He was also under fire for failing to adopt practical measures to enrich and promote the efficiency and quality of educational programmes.

Under the Iranian constitution, lawmakers can impeach a minister when they deem it necessary. An impeachment motion can be submitted when it has at least 10 signatures.