Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - January 3, 2002 - Meeting with Taghi Qaraati and Report on the Revitalization of Mosques

Meeting with Mohammad Ali Ansari and Report on the Rafsanjan Document Center, Library, and Museum

Meeting with Ahmad Khadem-al-Mollah, the then representative of IRNA in New York, expressing dissatisfaction with the performance of Hadi Najad Hosseinian

Meeting with Taghi Qaraati and Report on the Revitalization of Mosques

Meeting with the Board of Directors of the Muslim Journalists Association

The most important meeting today is the session of the heads of the branches of government at the office of Seyyed Mohammad Khatami.

Discussion regarding the immunity of parliamentarians and the continuation of the strong speech by Seyyed Ali Akbar Mohtashami Pour in the sixth parliament against Seyyed Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi and a routine report on the case against Shahram Jazayeri Arab.

Complete Daily Entry:

Mr. [Mohammad Ali] Ansari, the preacher from Rafsanjan, [former president of the Rafsanjan Martyrs Foundation], and his son Mohammad Reza came to visit. They spoke about the significance, prosperity, and positive impacts of the [Document Center, Library, and] Museum of Rafsanjan, adding that during the opening, when the Quran was opened, the first page revealed the verse "O Yahya, take the Scripture with strength" (Quran 19:12).

Mr. [Ahmad] Khadem-al-Mollah, the representative of the [Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA)] in New York, visited. He expressed concerns regarding the weak performance of Mr. [Hadi] Najad Hosseinian, [the permanent representative of Iran to the United Nations], and the possibility of him staying in that position after his mission ends. He requested more attention be paid to representation at the United Nations.

Mr. Taghi Qaraati, [head of the Center for Mosque Affairs], came to discuss the issues in managing mosques and the inefficiency of the mosque affairs organization in Tehran, as well as the lack of planning by the [Endowment] Organization and the Islamic Propaganda Organization. He also mentioned financial difficulties in completing mosques under construction and the need to build mosques in required locations. He sought help in finding solutions to the mosque issues and also addressed intellectual problems in managing the seminary.

In the evening, the board of directors of the Muslim Journalists Association, including Mr. Alireza Malekian, Ashari, Reza Moghaddasi, Nasser Bahrami Rad, Pourali, Morteza Parvazi Moghadam, Hassan Akhtari, Seyyed Jalal Fayyazi, Mohammad Mahdi Mazaheri, and Ms. Maryam Pouryamini, came. They discussed the financial and political issues faced by right-wing newspapers and the absence of strategies and guidelines for their positioning. They requested that I think of a solution and take action. I criticized the slogan-driven work style and the undermining of the original revolutionary forces, management practices, and the questioning of the honorable history of the revolution. They mentioned their lack of a think tank and guidance, asking for assistance to address this shortcoming, stating they do not know other individuals who could help resolve the issues of loyal forces to the revolution.

In the evening, we were guests at Mr. [Seyyed Mohammad] Khatami's, [the president's] gathering with the heads of the branches of government. Mr. [Mahdi] Karroubi, [the speaker of the parliament], described the current situation in the parliament as intolerable and unmanageable, stating that if the arrest of parliamentarians does not stop, he cannot manage the parliament. Mr. [Seyyed Mahmoud] Hashemi Shahroudi, [the head of the judiciary], also stated that he does not accept the judicial immunity of parliamentarians, which the Guardian Council also rejects, and emphasized that only through understanding between parliamentarians and the judiciary, and abandoning radical approaches, can the atmosphere be calmed. It was decided that a joint committee would continue its work, and convicted individuals should approach the Supreme Court. Criticism was directed at Mr. [Seyyed Ali Akbar] Mohtashami for his statements against Mr. Hashemi Shahroudi in a closed session of parliament.

Mr. Khatami and Shahroudi provided a report on the case of [Shahram] Jazayeri, which did not contain more than what has been reported in the newspapers. Regarding Israel's claims about Iranian weapons on a ship intended for the Palestinians, Mr. Khatami stated that all relevant officials deny it. Criticism was also directed at the media's sensationalism regarding the "Aghazadeh" issue.

It was announced that Abdul Salam Zaeef, the Taliban ambassador in Pakistan, has been captured by the Americans. Some say Pakistan has handed him over to the U.S., while others claim he was expelled towards Afghanistan and was arrested there; in any case, it indicates Pakistan's unconditional submission to America. Israel has invited journalists to inspect the weapons aboard the ship, claiming that a member of Hezbollah and several Palestinian Authority agents are also on board.