Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - April 19, 2001 - Arrest of 30 More Individuals from the Group Known as National-Religious by the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Tehran

After the meeting yesterday with Ali Larijani and the quote from Saeed Hajarian regarding the high likelihood of Khatami not participating in the upcoming presidential election, this time, a meeting took place between Seyyed Hossein Marashi and Hashemi. This meeting revealed Hashemi's decision to participate in the elections and to inquire about the candidate from the conservative faction.

• Meeting with Sheikh Abdul-Reza Izadpanah, the then-Deputy of the Judiciary, who announced the intention to pursue the National-Religious figures, and Hashemi’s recommendation to reconsider the charges against Mohammad-Reza Yazdanpanah.
• Meeting and request for help from Mohammad-Reza Mazlumi regarding his issue with the Tehran Municipality.
• Meeting with the periodic deputy ministers of the Ministry of Intelligence, this time with Sheikh Mohammad Shafii and Amir Tehrani, reporting on and consulting regarding political, security, and electoral matters, emphasizing that Sheikh Ali Younesi, the then-Minister of Intelligence, is gradually being adjusted (meaning becoming coordinated with the system and policies of the ministry and its managers).
• Meeting with Mohammad Javad Iravani and Kazem Najafi Ilmi, discussing the possibility of one of their group, such as Majid Ghasemi (the current CEO of Bank Pasargad) or Kazem Najafi Ilmi, running in the upcoming elections.
• Meeting with Seyyed Niyaz Hossein Naqvi, the Sharia Judge of the Revolutionary Court of Qom, granting permission to translate Hashemi's book into Urdu and recommending not to be strict regarding Ayatollah Montazeri (I have previously written about this judge, who recently passed away, in Abdi Media).
• Consultations with Sheikh Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi regarding the recent arrests and the presidential election, and discussions about his former boss, Sheikh Ali Fallahian.

The Islamic Revolutionary Court of Tehran announced the arrest of 30 more individuals from the group known as National-Religious on charges of subversion.

Full Entry:

Mr. [Hosseyn] Marashi, the representative from Kerman, came. He said he had met with Mr. [Seyyed Mohammad] Khatami, the [President], yesterday and understood that Mr. Khatami intends to run, but they are implementing a campaign strategy to create public demand. He is only worried about a decrease in votes and wanted to find out who the opposing faction would nominate.

Mr. [Abdul-Reza] Izadpanah, the [Social] Deputy of Mr. [Seyyed Mahmoud Hashemi] Shahroudi, the head of the judiciary, came. He said they intend to seriously pursue the National-Religious figures. I suggested they reconsider the charges against Mr. [Mohammad-Reza] Yazdanpanah, the former CEO of the Kish Free Zone. He praised my Quranic works.

Mr. [Mohammad-Reza] Mazlumi, a disabled veteran who lost his sight, and the head of the Blind Sports Federation, came to claim his rights from the Tehran Municipality, which had included his father's property in a plan, and he also sought help for sports for the blind. I recommended to Mr. [Morteza] Alviri, the [Mayor of Tehran], and [Mostafa] Hashemi-Taba, the [head of the Physical Education Organization].

Mr. [Mohammad] Shafii and [Amir] Tehrani from the Ministry of Intelligence came. They had questions regarding the [presidential] election and mentioned that many people are waiting for you to run, which I disappointed them. They said that Mr. [Ali] Younesi, the [Minister of Intelligence], is gradually being moderated. In the afternoon, Mr. Ali Larijani, [the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting], came; for the election, considering the strengthened possibility of Mr. [Seyyed Mohammad] Khatami participating, he had discussions and proposals for both scenarios of participation and non-participation.

Mr. [Mohammad Javad] Iravani and [Kazem] Najafi Ilmi, [members of the Expediency Discernment Council], came. They mentioned that it is possible for one person from their group to run, such as Mr. Ghasemi or Najafi Ilmi. Mr. Iravani spoke about the situation in Iraq; he had just returned from Karbala. Mr. [Seyyed Niyaz Hossein] Naqvi from the Revolutionary Court of Qom came. He has compiled my Friday sermons on social justice into a book and has translated it into Urdu. He asked for permission to translate the key to the Quran into Urdu as well. He said that being strict regarding Ayatollah Montazeri is not correct; there should be tolerance.

Mr. Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi, [the former Deputy Minister of Intelligence], came. He spoke about the recent arrests and the [presidential] election and Mr. [Ali] Fallahian, [the former Minister of Intelligence]; he opposes Mr. Fallahian running [for election]. The Revolutionary Court announced that they have arrested 30 more National-Religious figures on charges of intent to subvert.