Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – April 23, 2003

Today, the attention of global media and political circles is focused on Karbala. A massive crowd from across Iraq has gathered there for the Arbaeen ceremony, many of them traveling on foot. For 30 years, the Ba’athist regime had prevented Shiites from holding the mourning ceremonies in the way they preferred. From Iran as well, many people have reached the area without passports by using the open Iraqi borders. Domestic media speak of millions of people, while opponents try to downplay the scale of the gathering by describing it as hundreds of thousands. The importance of this gathering has increased due to its potential impact on Iraq’s future political trajectory and the complications it may create for the United States.

Yesterday, Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi Modarresi, a prominent religious and Islamic leader of the Islamic Action Organization, along with 60 clerics and notable figures heading toward Karbala, was arrested near Baqubah. Since he was supposed to deliver a speech at today’s Shiite gathering in Karbala, this arrest has drawn even greater sensitivity. From last night until today, conflicting reports have appeared in the news; even Iranian television announced their release and arrival in Karbala. However, today Modarresi’s office officially stated that there has been no news since their arrest, and it was claimed that the Mojahedin [MEK] had detained them. Eventually, by evening it was announced that Modarresi and his companions had been released.

Mr. Hussein Furtusi, another well-known cleric who had been arrested by American forces three days earlier, was released following Shiite protests and demonstrations.

The UN Security Council held a meeting on Iraq. France, shifting from its previous position, proposed lifting sanctions on Iraq. Hans Blix, head of UN weapons inspectors, called for continuing inspections, and the United States agreed. Jay Garner, head of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq, visited Iraqi Kurdistan yesterday. He met officials in Sulaymaniyah and then Erbil, making promises to the Kurds. Meanwhile, tensions between the two Kurdish parties—the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union—over the governorship of Kirkuk have intensified, with each side appointing its own governor.

Similar to the early days after the fall of the Shah’s regime in Iran, political parties in Iraq are rapidly declaring their existence and usually establish their headquarters by occupying government buildings. Communist, socialist, monarchist, Kurdish, Arab, Sunni, Shiite, and other parties have emerged. The first newspaper after Saddam Hussein’s fall was published by the Communist Party.

With Yasser Arafat’s concession, the issue of forming the Palestinian cabinet was resolved, and attention now turns to the announcement of the US “road map” peace plan. The US–North Korea summit in China on the nuclear issue has begun. In China, the Minister of Health and the Mayor of Beijing were dismissed due to negligence in dealing with SARS, while daily reports continue about the virus claiming victims.

Americans say they will introduce and circulate the dollar as the official currency in Iraq. The introduction of a new dinar, which could create many problems, is also underway, and it is said that salaries for 2.5 million Iraqi employees will be paid in dollars using frozen funds from the former regime in the United States. Many analyses in the media discuss the rise of Shiites in Iraq, as well as reports of cooperation between the United States and the MEK, interpreted as hostility toward Iran. However, given the US claim of fighting terrorism and the MEK’s designation as a terrorist group—even within the United States—this could damage America’s credibility.

In Iraq, an explosion killed several American soldiers. Today, in Afghanistan as well, heavy clashes occurred with US forces. I read a report on the meeting of foreign ministers of Iraq’s neighboring countries in Riyadh, which states that Saudi Arabia organized it to please the United States, but Syria and Iran prevented Saudi Arabia from achieving its goals. Among its proposals was the creation of local councils across Iraq to administer the country in cooperation with Garner—the imposed administrator—and later forming a central administration in Baghdad from their representatives. This proposal was not accepted due to conflicting resolutions, although it might not be a bad idea if it were not intended as cooperation with the United States.