Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – April 1, 1981

Today was a holiday; I did not leave the house. Heavy rain fell and disrupted the march. At nine o'clock in the morning, Ahmad Aqa Khomeini called. He was supposed to read the Imam's message at the march ceremony; he was concerned about what should be done and was looking for an authority to officially declare the cancellation of the march so that the matter of reading the message would also be clear. In contacting the Friday Prayer Headquarters, I found the officials and told them to contact the Imam's office and determine what to do. Two hours later, it was announced that the march had ended due to the heavy rainfall; but later it turned out that the dedicated and steadfast people had remained in the streets under the torrential rain, reached Azadi Square, and had not left the square. Mr. [Ahmad] Jannati also gave a speech, and the resolution was read as well.

I heard the Imam's message on the radio. It was read during the afternoon news. It was very dignified, interesting, and well-thought-out. [In this message, the Imam] referred to the violation of the order for calm by the newspapers Mizan and Enghelab-e Eslami, and mentioned the instruction given to the Prosecutor General regarding the prosecution of the violators from these two newspapers. In all honesty, Mr. Banisadr, in the "Karnameh" [column] of the newspaper [Enghelab-e Eslami] dated 11/1/1360 [March 31, 1981], went beyond the bounds of impudence and insulted everyone, even the Leader. It is clear that they seek tension.

In the Imam's message, there were also points regarding the war and the mediating delegation that condemned Mr. Banisadr's policy. In yesterday's Karnameh, Mr. Banisadr wrote that he wishes to end the war and make peace, but the slogans of today's march and the Imam's statements have certainly blocked the way for him.

Effat and Fati, at the invitation of officials from the Martyr Foundation (Bonyad-e Shahid), went to the Esteghlal Hotel to meet one thousand seven hundred families of Khuzestan martyrs and stayed with them until late at night. In their absence, Mahmoud Mohyeddin, Nosrat, her children, and Reza Ayatollahi came over. Mahmoud spoke of stagnation and factionalism in the oil company, stating that a clique was in control, and wanted us to find a solution.

Mr. Eshraghi, the Imam's son-in-law, called and made an appointment for a group of purged individuals to come and speak with me regarding the reconstruction bill. He spoke about his ideas in Urmia and the need for cooperation from the IRGC. Mr. Jafar Motahhari, a merchant from the bazaar, came and was upset with Mr. Jalal al-Din Farsi for promoting nationalism, endorsing the path of [Dr. Mohammad] Mosaddegh, and condemning Ayatollah Kashani. He had brought his speech in Qazvin—to which he objected.