Akbar Hashemi's Memoirs - November 10, 1999 - Ongoing Reactions to Sheikh Abdullah Nouri's Defense at the Special Clerical Court

urther reactions and commentary on Sheikh Abdullah Nouri’s defense during his trial at the Special Clerical Court continued today.

The account from the son of Allameh Mohammad-Taqi Jafari

Ali-Naqi Jafari, the son of the late Allameh Mohammad-Taqi Jafari, along with Mohsen Sanaei, visited Hashemi Rafsanjani. They provided updates on the work related to preserving and organizing the writings of Allameh Jafari and requested that Hashemi assume an honorary position as the head of their scientific council. However, Hashemi declined, citing his already numerous responsibilities.

They also explained the origins of the disagreement between Allameh Jafari and Abdulkarim Soroush. They recounted an incident when Soroush, along with Mashallah Shamsolvaezin and Akbar Ganji, approached Allameh Jafari, suggesting that he use the occasion of an award ceremony to protest the situation of Ayatollah Montazeri. Jafari refused, leading to further conflict between the two. They expressed their gratitude for Hashemi’s role in opening the memorial conference.

Concerns over the anniversary of Rafsanjani's mother’s passing

Mohammad Akhavi, the Deputy Executive of the President’s Office, consulted with Hashemi about state affairs and expressed disappointment over the oversight of his late mother’s anniversary commemoration. They agreed to hold a memorial in the coming year based on the solar calendar.

Report from Intelligence Ministry officials

Later, officials from the Ministry of Intelligence visited Hashemi, presenting a report on foreign nationals residing in Iran, stating there are about 2.5 million, primarily from Afghanistan and Iraq, with about half residing illegally. They detailed the negative impacts of their presence and outlined a comprehensive plan to address the issue. Hashemi advised them to consider both Islamic and humanitarian principles, given that most of these individuals were in a state of desperation.

Abdullah Nouri's trial continues to dominate the media

That evening, Hashemi noted that Abdullah Nouri’s trial remained a major topic in the media. Some praised Nouri for addressing key issues, such as leadership and Ayatollah Montazeri, seeing it as a sign of impending transformation. International observers echoed this sentiment. Others, however, were critical, accusing Nouri of crossing red lines by questioning the decisions of the leadership.

International news

In international developments, Iran's proposal to control missile industries was approved at the United Nations, despite opposition from the U.S. and Europe. Another earthquake, measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale, struck eastern Istanbul, Turkey, causing significant damage. Speculation resurfaced about a possible link between Israel's nuclear tests and the previous earthquake, particularly given recent announcements of Israeli tests in the Dead Sea area.

Additionally, Canadian and Malaysian ambassadors from the Commonwealth of Nations met with former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in prison, where Sharif expressed hope for the return of democracy to Pakistan soon.