Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - March 27, 2001 - Hashemi's Account of the Surrounding Events Related to the Judiciary Attacks, Recent Arrests, and Fatemeh Haqiqatjou's Interrogation for Six Hours

Hashemi's Account of the Surrounding Events Related to the Judiciary Attacks, Recent Arrests, and Fatemeh Haqiqatjou's Interrogation for Six Hours

Hashemi's Public Nowruz Visits and His Emphasis on Restricting Their Conduct Due to the Beginning of Muharram

Foreign media analyzed the statements made by Ayatollah Khamenei in Mashhad, where he said: "No one should be deceived by claims from officials of a foreign country that they support a certain faction, group, or individual. Their support is a disgrace, not an honor."

Full Entry:

I went to my office. Most of the time before noon was spent meeting with visitors for Nowruz. Because the month of Muharram has begun, I told my office to avoid scheduling holiday visits as much as possible. I worked until night. The attacks from the media and groups associated with the 2nd of Khordad and foreign media against the judiciary, due to the arrests and particularly the arrest of Ms. [Fatemeh] Haqiqatjou, the representative from Tehran, who was interrogated for six hours, as well as the arrest of Mr. Ibrahim Sheikh, are intense. Foreign media have criticized the leadership's statements regarding the disgracefulness of foreign support for individuals and internal factions.

In Lebanon, the conflict between Muslim and Christian clerics regarding the continued presence of Syrian armed forces in Lebanon has intensified. On the eve of the Arab leaders' summit in Amman, [the capital of Jordan], clashes in Palestine have escalated. Kofi Annan, [the Secretary-General of the United Nations], warned Yasser Arafat, [the head of the Palestinian Authority], not to act aggressively during the Security Council discussions, as the U.S. might intervene and veto the plan in favor of Israel. The Russian government is angry about a meeting between Chechen representatives and American officials, stating that this action contradicts their cooperation.