Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - July 8, 2001 - The Most Important Meeting Today Is a One-on-One Meeting with Ayatollah Khamenei

Meeting at the Foundation of the Culture of the Islamic Revolution, managed by Sheikh Ali Asghar Moravideh.

Meeting with members of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Friendship Association and listening to reports from Seyyed Abolhassan Navab, Mahmoud Vaezi, and Akbar Torkan regarding this matter.

Meeting with Dr. Mahdi Akbarzadeh.

Interview with Amir Ali Shamkhani regarding the war and his report on the proposal by Seyyed Mohammad Khatami for the Ministry of Defense in his second government.

The Most Important Meeting Today Is a One-on-One Meeting with Ayatollah Khamenei:

1. Following the report from the previous meeting, Hassan Rouhani informed Hashemi of the Supreme Leader’s opposition to the decision of the Supreme National Security Council regarding the house arrest of Ayatollah Montazeri.
2. Following the report from Sheikh Abbas Ali Alizadeh, the then Chief Justice of Tehran Province, regarding the ruling of Branch 27 of the Tehran Court of Appeals, presided over by Judge Sheikh Ali Bakshi, this time the Supreme Leader expressed his opposition to the ruling of this branch, which had reduced the sentence of Akbar Ganji. Immediately, the Chief Justice of Tehran requested the application of Article 18 of the Law for the Establishment of General and Revolutionary Courts from the Supreme Court, and the ruling of this court was overturned by the Supreme Court to prevent Ganji's release.
3. The Supreme Leader's remarks regarding the actions of Seyyed Mohammad Khatami followed the report from Bijan Namdar Zangeneh and Sheikh Ahmad Jannati's statements regarding this matter, as well as Sheikh Mahdi Karroubi’s request for the release of prisoners from the events of July 9, 1999.

Full Text of the Daily Entry:

I went to the research center of Mr. [Ali Asghar] Moravideh, named the "Foundation of the Culture of the Islamic Revolution," located on Shahrara Street. The building is unfinished and reportedly belonged to [Rahim Ali] Khorram, which was confiscated and handed over to the foundation by Imam’s order. A number of Mr. Moravideh’s colleagues and friends were present. Mr. Moravideh explained the foundation’s activities, including the publication of a forty-volume series of “Al-Masaadir al-Fiqhiyyah,” which compiles the views of Islamic sects, “Al-Yanabee al-Fiqhiyyah,” and “Miftah al-Karamah,” as well as preparing a comprehensive list of existing manuscripts in Iran. We visited the library. He requested assistance to establish a center for representatives of Islamic countries to address issues concerning the Islamic world.

The Bosnia and Herzegovina Friendship Association visited. They asked me to attend their opening ceremony. Mr. [Aboulhassan] Navab, [Mahmoud] Vaezi, [Akbar] Torkan, and several members of the IRGC and Jihad who had previously served in Bosnia were present. They mentioned that the real ruler of Bosnia is the American representative who has come as the peacekeeper under the Dayton Agreement, effectively dictating everything with the leverage of aid and peacekeeping.

Dr. [Mahdi] Akbarzadeh, a chemistry researcher, came. He said that the Ministry of Jihad Agriculture had not paid his work allowance. I told him to refer to the minister. In the afternoon, we had an interview regarding the war. Mr. [Ali] Shamkhani, [Minister of Defense], conducted the interview. He expressed his dissatisfaction with the presidential elections, especially regarding the unjust attacks against him and the lack of cooperation from his IRGC friends. He mentioned that Mr. [Seyyed Mohammad] Khatami had invited him to join the new cabinet, but he had not yet made a decision.

In the evening, I was a guest of the Supreme Leader. We reminisced about our time in seminary, his speeches, and struggles. He expressed his discontent with the resolution of the security committee of the Supreme National Security Council regarding the house arrest of Ayatollah Montazeri, as well as the performance of the Court of Appeals regarding [Mr. Akbar Ganji] and some judicial officials who do not cooperate with the Tehran judiciary.

In the media, Mr. [Seyyed Mohammad] Khatami's remarks in response to a letter from Mr. [Bijan Namdar] Zangeneh regarding the accusations against Mr. [Ahmad] Jannati, [Secretary of the Guardian Council], and others regarding the Ministry [of Oil] and commissions have received widespread coverage. The Supreme Leader also deemed Mr. Jannati's remarks, Mr. Khatami's reaction, and Mr. [Mahdi] Karroubi's request regarding the imprisoned students from the events of July 9, 1999, as erroneous and part of a propaganda campaign.