Introduction
Despite negative propaganda, calls for an election boycott by certain political factions, and escalating Western pressure over the nuclear and human rights issues, the Seventh Parliament's elections were held as scheduled. The number of female candidates rose to 827, with 13 ultimately securing seats.
This four-year parliamentary term overlapped with the presidencies of reformist Seyed Mohammad Khatami and his successor, principalist Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. During this period, the Parliament, operating in a relatively stable political climate, passed significant legislation aimed at improving economic conditions, public livelihood, and national infrastructure development.
This study seeks to answer the following question: What was the performance of the female representatives in the Seventh Parliament? The research hypothesis posits that these women, by forming a parliamentary faction and with the support of other members, made effective contributions to improving the conditions for women in society through the proposal, amendment, and ratification of specific laws.
Among the works on the Seventh Parliament is the publication, A Record of the Activities of Women Representatives in the Seventh Parliament, issued by the Parliamentary "Cultural Studies Office." One should also note the text assessing the performance of the Center for Women and Family Affairs (concerning women's and family NGOs), published by the same office in November 2013.


Material &Methods
In addition to these, broader studies have been conducted with the aim of examining the issue of women's political participation throughout Iranian history, each offering valuable insights. Notable examples include the article "Women's Political Participation in Iran" by Ms. Nasrin Mosaffa, and "Factors Limiting Women's Political Participation (An Analysis of the Reasons for the Limited Number of Female Representatives in the Islamic Consultative Assembly from Women's Perspectives)" by Hākem Ghasemi and Fatemeh Ma‘ālī.
By utilizing parliamentary minutes, media and press reports, and political-economic analyses, this study presents novel findings that offer a fresh perspective compared to other published works.
Discussion & Results
The Seventh Parliamentary elections were held in two rounds on 20 February 2004 and 7 May 2004. From an eligible electorate of 46,351,032 citizens, a total of 23,734,677 individuals cast their ballots, resulting in a voter turnout of 51.21%; the lowest participation rate recorded compared to all previous parliamentary terms.
This period witnessed a significant rise in female candidacy. The number of women candidates reached 827, representing a tenfold increase compared to the 90 candidates in the First Parliament. Furthermore, the election of 13 women meant they constituted 6.5% of the total parliamentary seats, a figure nearly three times higher than their representation in the first term (Rajabi, 2006: 1).
Representatives of the Seventh Parliament




No.


Name and Surname


Electoral District


Total Votes (in thousands)


Votes for Male Representatives


Percentage of Votes


Commission


Round




1.


Fatemeh Ajorlo


Karaj


93.402


49.923


53%


Education and Research


Second




2.


Eshrat Shayeq


Tabriz, Azarshahr and Osku


168.300


45.058


26.77%


Article 90 Committee


Second




3.


Mehrangiz Morvati


Khalkhal and Kowsar



645.60



930.25



75.42%


Health and Medical Affairs



First




4.


Ref‘at Bayat


Zanjan and Tarom



1.971.557



34.581



49.89%


Health and Medical Affairs



Second




5.



Soheila Jelodarzadeh


Tehran, Rey, Shemiranat, and Eslamshahr



1.971.557



307.618



14.75%


Cultural Affairs


Second




6.



Nafiseh Fayyaz-Bakhsh


Tehran, Rey, Shemiranat, and Eslamshahr



1.971.557



581.925



29.51%


Education and Research



First




7.



Fatemeh Alia


Tehran, Rey, Shemiranat, and Eslamshahr



1.971.557



527.448



26%


Cultural Affairs



First




8.



Elham Aminzadeh


Tehran, Rey, Shemiranat, and Eslamshahr



1.971.557



521.782



26.46%


National Security and Foreign Policy



First




9.


Hājer Tahriri Niksafat


Rasht


51.239


20.565


40.13%


Education and Research


Second




10.


Nireh Akhavan-Beytarf


Isfahan


414.559


585.108


26.19%


Judicial and Legal Affairs


First




11.



Lāleh Eftekhari


Tehran, Rey, Shemiranat, and Eslamshahr



1.971.557



535.169



26.26%



Cultural Affairs



First




12.



Fatemeh Rahbar


Tehran, Rey, Shemiranat, and Eslamshahr



1.971.557



517.734



26/26%



Cultural Affairs



First




13.


Effat Shari‘ati Kohbanani


Mashhad and Kalat


147.483


73.681


49.95%


Cultural Affairs


Second




Conclusion
The elections for the Seventh Parliament were held in two rounds, on 20 February 2004 and 7 May 2004, amid a sensitive domestic and international climate. The voter turnout of 51.2% was lower than in previous terms. Despite this, the successful convening of the elections and the formation of the parliament were of great importance. This period saw a significant increase in the number of female candidates (827), with 13 women being elected, constituting 6.5% of the total representatives.
In the Seventh Parliament, 54 bills and proposals pertaining to women, children, and family affairs were reviewed, of which 20 were ratified. Despite their small number, the female representatives played an active role by proposing bills, ratifying legislation, and amending laws. They succeeded in addressing fundamental issues and legal gaps, contributing effectively to improving women's status in society. Key legislative achievements included:
· The Therapeutic Abortion Act
· Granting citizenship to children of Iranian women married to foreign nationals
· Facilitation of marriage procedures
· Livelihood support for women and children without guardians
· The government's accession to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child
· Amendments to the law on the Promotion of Breastfeeding
· The plan for Regulating Fashion and Clothing
Although significant distance remained in addressing all social harms and legal gaps related to women and the family, the female representatives in this term enhanced the capacity of parliamentary diplomacy through their active presence in committees and friendship groups.
It should be added that the low number of female representatives, as half of society, creates an imbalance in proportional and balanced distribution. To overcome this situation, political parties and groups can reduce barriers by increasing the number of female candidates on electoral lists. Through solidarity among women, the number of female representatives can be increased, leading to the ratification of more effective laws and a reduction in existing obstacles and problems.