A/HRC/31/69 notably their full “practical” loyalty to the Supreme Leader and their recognition of his authority over all matters of State (i.e., the principle of velayat-e faqih).35 The following table shows the number of candidates allowed to stand for election since 1980; figure IV shows the percentage of qualified and disqualified candidates in parliamentary elections. Number of candidates in parliamentary elections in the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1980-2016 Year 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 Number of candidates registered to run 3 694 1 592 1 999 3 233 5 365 6 853 8 172 7 600 5 283 12 123 Number of candidates allowed to run 2 000 1 275 1 615 2 310 3 276 5 083 4 559 4 755 3 444 4 720 Number of candidates disqualified 1 694 317 384 923 2 089 1 770 3 613 2 845 1 839 7 403 Figure IV Percentage of qualified and disqualified candidates in parliamentary elections in the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1980-2016 Qualified Candidates % 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 0.00 Disqualified Candidates % 54 80 81 71 61 74 56 63 65 39 25.00 50.00 75.00 46 20 19 29 39 26 44 37 35 61 100.00 125.00 44. On 20 January 2016, the Supervisory Board of the Guardian Council qualified 39 per cent of the 12,123 candidates who had registered to run in the parliamentary elections. According to reports, only 30, or 1 per cent, of some 3,000 “reformist” candidates who had registered for the elections were approved by the Board in its decision. Some of those rejected appealed to the Guardian Council and were approved on 15 February 2016, when the Council approved a total of 52 per cent of the candidates. In its response, the Government notes that the Guardian Council’s supervision of the elections is not beyond the law and that its activities are in full compliance with international law. 45. The Guardian Council invited 540 of the candidates for election to parliament, including 6 women, to sit for an examination to determine whether they were qualified to run for the Assembly of Experts.36 On 26 January 2016, the Guardian Council disqualified 35 36 Art. 28 of the Election Law. See www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=13941015001193 (in Persian). 13