Memories of Akbar Hashemi, 20th January 2002

Full text of the diary:

Ayatollah Hashemi in the Mirror of Memories

Wednesday, January 22, 2002

I went to Eram Park for the closing ceremony of the Farmers' House Congress. There was a magnificent gathering with the presence of 4,600 farmers. Two people from each village had come with the choice of farmers. They gave a warm welcome. They are still impressed by the government's services to the villages and farmers.

The host recited an interesting poem and [Mr. Osman Mohammad Parast], a famous artist from Khaf, played a short piece on the dotar. Dr. [Issa] Kalantari, [the Secretary General of the Farmers' House], gave a report and a welcome address. I gave a plaque of appreciation to the eight members of the founding board. They requested that the Expediency Discernment Assembly approve [general] agricultural policies that are sustainable and reassuring.

I gave a detailed speech and emphasized the importance of establishing a farmer's house and called myself, as a smallholder, part of the family of farmers, and explained the general agricultural policies that were recently approved by the Assembly's Infrastructure Commission in 15 paragraphs, which made them happy. They complain about the media for not giving the necessary attention to this important issue. I told Dr. [Ali] Larijani, [the head of the Iranian Broadcasting Organization], to make amends.

Mr. Hossein Marashi, [Kerman representative], came. He said that the people of Khordad are worried about the news in Kayhan [the newspaper] that important events are coming in the next few days and that it has predicted the dissolution of the Partisan Party. He wanted to know what was going on, considering the meeting of the heads of forces in the presence of the Leader. I said that I had not heard any news about this and it was unlikely to be true. Recently, Mr. [Mohammad Reza] Faker, a member of the Qom Seminary Teachers' Association, has also said that Mr. Khatami, [President], and those around him will suffer the fate of [former President] [Abul Hasan] Bani Sadr; although, due to the backlash, he corrected his statement and said, "I mean Mohammad Reza Khatami, not the President," and this correction has not been implemented.

In the evening, the Supreme Council of the Dar al-Taqrib Assembly, composed of domestic and foreign clerics, arrived. Mr. [Sayyid Mohammad Baqir] Hakim, [Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Assembly] and [Mohammad Ali] Taskhiri, [Secretary General of the Assembly], gave their meeting report, and I also spoke about the necessity of Muslim unity and avoiding division in this situation when America has taken action against Muslims, and I said that today the differences in parties and gangs and governments and powers in the Islamic world are wider and more destructive than religious differences. Mr. [Mohammad] Asif [Mohsini] spoke about the situation in Afghanistan, and [Mr. Mohammad Al-Asi], the Imam of the Washington Mosque, spoke about the problems of Muslims in America after September 11.

I was the guest of the leadership that night. The continuation of the [uranium] enrichment projects, which have recently been blackmailed by the United States, was discussed. He believes in continuing it, but Mr. Khatami, [President] does not agree, and I also support the leadership's opinion. It was supposed to be discussed at the summit. They criticized Mr. Khatami's approach and said that they had spoken to him bitterly and listened to him about the rumors of his departure from power and the possibility of the president's resignation, which would cause losses in this world and the hereafter. They said that they intended to strengthen the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution. We also discussed the future parliament and the farmer's house.

They invited me to attend the wedding ceremony of their little daughter [Huda], who will marry [Misbah al-Huda], the son of Mr. Mohammad Baqir Baqeri-Kani.

As of today, interrogation of Iraqi scientists of weapons of mass destruction by [UN] weapons inspectors has begun in Iraq, and America has opposed Iraq's proposal to have CIA spies participate in the inspection that they claim Iraq has weapons of mass destruction, and this shows that the claims are not true.

A Ukrainian Antonov plane with 44 passengers crashed into a mountain in the Ardestan region of Isfahan last night and broke up, killing all the passengers, including six Russians and 38 Ukrainians. They were mainly aircraft industry specialists who were going to Iran's aircraft manufacturing industry in Isfahan [= Hesa ​​Iran 140]. Iraqi Al-Shabaab TV has claimed that the US shot down the plane, but this claim is not true. This incident could have a negative impact on the production of the Iran-140.

In domestic incidents, armed bank robberies have increased these days, indicating a coordinated conspiracy.