Akbar Hashemi's Memoirs - October 6, 2002

Mr. Tabasi, quoting Mr. Rashidizadeh: During Mr. Khatami's presence at Masjid al-Haram and Friday prayers, an Arab individual insulted Mr. Khatami with audacity, calling him an infidel and questioning why he had come to the Haram.

Regarding the two bills on elections and expanding the President’s powers, Mr. Jannati stated that the Guardian Council will undoubtedly reject them, and ultimately nothing will be achieved. Naturally, the matter will reach a referendum, which also will lead nowhere.

The leadership believes that the collective resignation of hard-left members will not cause any problems, and Mr. Khatami will not resign either.

Full diary entry summary:

I had a fever. The Expediency Discernment Council held a session and approved two additional clauses of general urban planning policies. At noon, I had the usual meeting with Mr. Tabasi, Mr. Nategh Nouri, Mr. Jannati, Mr. Darri, and Mr. Mohahedi Kermani.

Mr. Tabasi, quoting Mr. Rashidizadeh, said that during the Saudi Arabia trip, while Mr. Khatami was present at Masjid al-Haram and Friday prayers, an Arab person audaciously insulted him, calling him an infidel and asking why he had come to the Haram. Mr. Nouri-Shahroudi, former Iranian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, also relayed this incident indirectly, and Mr. Rezaei, head of the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization, considered it part of Saudi rulers’ policies. Some also see it as a type of protest by Salafi religious groups against their government.

Regarding the two bills on elections and increasing presidential powers, Mr. Jannati, Secretary of the Guardian Council, said they would certainly be rejected and nothing would come of them. Eventually, it would naturally lead to a referendum, which also would not succeed. The remaining options are to either endure the situation or step aside, the latter potentially causing problems for the system. This issue had been discussed with the leadership before, who believes that the collective resignation of hard-left members will not create problems and Mr. Khatami will not resign. Overall, it seems Mr. Khatami has made a mistake, exposing himself to insults and protests. The bills are logically indefensible because they grant the President problematic powers and undermine the separation of powers, which is a fundamental principle in democracy. The situation is such that even media like the BBC, which initially defended the bills, are now inconsistent in their coverage, fearing loss of credibility.

In the afternoon, Mr. Masjed-Jamei, Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, arrived. He complained about the judiciary’s strictness regarding films, books, and publications. He wanted me to attend the anniversary conference of Martyr Ataollah Ashrafi Esfahani in Kermanshah.

My fever and chills worsened, and I returned home. Reports highlighted the massive demonstrations in the UK against the war policies and Tony Blair’s compliance with U.S. President George Bush regarding Iraq. Estimates of participants range from 250,000 to 500,000, with very strong speeches. Pressure on the U.S. and UK governments to prevent military action in Iraq is significant, and they are not backing down.

Taimur Sharghi was recognized as the 199th member of the United Nations, and a massive explosion occurred in Kabul, causing casualties.