Akbar Hashemi’s Memoirs – September 8, 2002

At the Assembly of Experts session, most speakers criticized the government’s bill to abolish supervisory review, while Mr. Seyed Ali Mohammad Dastgheib, [representative of Fars Province], in turn, raised criticisms regarding the leadership and the Guardian Council.

Full diary text:

At 8:30 a.m., the Assembly of Experts meeting began at the Imam Khomeini Complex. After the remarks of Ayatollah [Ali] Meshkini, [Chairman of the Assembly of Experts], and the pre-scheduled speakers, as well as the selection of the committee to prepare the closing statement and a short recess, I spoke about globalization and the exploitation by colonial powers and the United States. It took some time, and I answered several questions.

Most speakers in the morning and afternoon criticized the government’s bill to abolish supervisory review, while Mr. Seyed Ali Mohammad Dastgheib, [representative of Fars Province], raised criticisms regarding the leadership and the Guardian Council.

At noon, I went to my office and attended to office work. At 4:30 p.m., the second session began. We approved the plan to activate the Assembly of Experts and finalized the main points of the statement. In the evening, they were guests at the Expediency Discernment Council. Messrs. [Mohammad] Yazdi, [Ebrahim] Amini, and [Abbas] Kaabi criticized the Assembly for the delay in handing over the building and not approving the budget for the Assembly’s premises. Mr. Majid Ansari, [representative of Tehran Province], responded, and Messrs. [Abbas] Kaabi, [Mohammad] Yazdi, and [Ali Akbar] Qureshi from Urmia asked questions regarding the possibility of a U.S. attack and budget approval. Mr. [Ali] Falahian, [representative of Khuzestan Province], asked about the pros and cons of joining the World Trade Organization, which I answered. Ayatollah Meshkini also gave a brief talk on the virtues of Imam Baqir (AS) and moral lessons, then left after dinner. I returned home.

In Khost, Afghanistan, a bomb exploded in the market, causing several casualties. [George] Bush, [President of the United States], and [Tony] Blair, [Prime Minister of the UK], after a long meeting, stated that they have a common view regarding dealing with Iraq, but no final decision on war has been made. In Indonesia, local uprisings have escalated, and Indian and Pakistani forces exchange fire daily. Israel continues to kill oppressed Palestinians daily.

Kazem Marashi, [my brother-in-law], came. He brought the defense of Taher Ahmadzadeh [a national-religious activist], who was sentenced to five and a half years in the primary court. Ahmadzadeh, 82 years old, had previously been sentenced to 10 years in prison for cooperating with the Mujahedin [= MEK] and was pardoned after repentance and apology. In recent events, he has shown opposition to the regime.