Akbar Hashemi's Memoirs - May 29, 2001 - Meeting with Ghorbanali Saleh Abadi After His Release from Detention and Political Consultations

Meeting with Ghorbanali Saleh Abadi

Ghorbanali Saleh Abadi, a former representative from Mashhad, came to discuss his past experiences and express his grievances about his detention and disqualification from candidacy. He urged me to pay more attention to the leftist faction. I suggested that he ask them why they initiated their opposition to the government.

Meeting with Amir Tehrani

Amir Tehrani, the parliamentary assistant from the Ministry of Information, reported that the members of parliament postponed the elections for the presiding board against the internal regulations until after the presidential elections. This decision was influenced by the Sunni representatives' expectations for board membership, which were unlikely to be met, potentially leading to their dissatisfaction and negative votes in the elections. He also mentioned that conflicts among the second Khordad faction had intensified.

Meeting with University Presidents

Siavash Mirshafiei and Khosrowi, presidents of the Sari and Noor branches of Azad University, provided updates on their institutions. The newly established Noor University was facing debts and sought assistance to resolve the issue.

Phone Call from Abbas Sheibani

Dr. Abbas Sheibani called, requesting that I inform Fathi, the head of the Special Diseases Foundation, to pay attention to the requests from the Kidney Patients Association. I advised that mediation should be sought to resolve their differences.

Journey to Qom

In the evening, we set off for Qom and arrived at sunset. At the entrance of Qom, we were joined by Mohammad Jafari Gilani, the head of the Islamic Propagation Office of Qom Seminary. We proceeded directly to the village of Vosef, located 70 kilometers southeast of Qom. Before the revolution, the land belonged to Gholamali Ovisi and Jahanshah Saleh and had been confiscated in favor of the Foundation of the Oppressed. It is now leased to the Islamic Propagation Office of Qom for the establishment of a research village. We arrived near nightfall, and along the way, Mr. Jafari provided explanations about the activities of the Propagation Office and the efforts to improve the situation in the village of Vosef. The weather was cold, and we had dinner in a spring room.