Date: March 13, 2002 - Akbar Hashemi's Account of the Ongoing Controversies Surrounding the Assembly of Experts and Seyyed Kazem Nour-Mofidi's Statements

In the morning and afternoon, the Assembly of Experts convened. Most of the time was spent on speeches, and a few resolutions were passed. Overall, the disputes in this session were less than in previous sessions. Under the influence of American threats, a kind of restraint from conflict has emerged. There were only protests against the remarks of Seyyed Kazem Nour-Mofidi, a representative from Golestan Province, who criticized the Guardian Council. At the end of the session, journalists arrived, and a concluding statement was read for the representatives' comments in their presence.

Violence and killings continue in Palestine. The United Nations Security Council has urged Israel to cease its attacks and has spoken of an independent Palestinian state. Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, has also expressed concern and has voiced surprise at Bush's statements against Iran.

In India, the Supreme Court has prohibited celebrations and worship at the site of the demolished Babri mosque, which Hindus wanted to use for their events. In Zimbabwe, despite Western propaganda, Robert Mugabe has triumphed over Morgan Tsvangirai, the Prime Minister and leader of the Movement for Democratic Change. Although the West has questioned the presidential elections—despite extending the voting period by one day at the request of Mugabe's opponents—the African Union has endorsed the results.

The BBC reported an interesting incident: an Al-Qaeda prisoner at Guantanamo Bay, seizing an opportunity, managed to reach the barbed wire in the camp where a group of journalists had gathered. He shouted about the injustices of the United States and the neglect of international organizations, stating that a group of prisoners had been on a hunger strike for 14 days without any attention from the world. Part of his voice was broadcasted.