Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – April 29, 1981

We were scheduled to have an open session of the Islamic Consultative Assembly. First thing in the morning, the Presidium convened, but the number of present representatives did not reach the quorum of one hundred and eighty, and we were unable to hold an official open session; we spoke informally about the war zones. Parliament was recessed for another week. I stayed at Parliament until evening and attended to miscellaneous tasks.

Someone called from the Azadegan newspaper [reporting] that the printing house, due to being in debt, had refused to print the newspaper. It was decided that I would speak with the Mostazafan Foundation (Bonyad-e Mostazafan) and resolve it.

Mr. [Hossein] Ansari [Rad], representative of Neyshabur, complained about the performance of the governor-general of Khorasan, the Islamic Republican Party, the court, Jehad [Construction Jihad], and the IRGC (Sepah); apparently, because they associate him with Bani-Sadr, they are incompatible with him.

The representatives of Khorramshahr complained about the problems of war refugees. News arrived of an assassination attempt on the life of Mr. Rabbani Shirazi in Shiraz and his survival.

I spoke with him on the phone at Namazi Hospital and also sent him a telegram.

I received news that Dr. Taqizadeh, Mr. Bani-Sadr's representative in London, had gone to the Iraqi Embassy and stayed there for a while; presumably, it is not unrelated to the mediation delegation. I gave the news to Mr. Rajai so that they would keep track of it in the Supreme Defense Council.

In the evening, I went to the meeting of the Central Council of the Islamic Republican Party. We discussed current issues for a few hours. Discussions were held regarding economic programs—in order to redistribute wealth and eliminate economic discrimination—and decisions were made.

After the Maghrib and Isha prayers, a joint meeting of representatives and executive officials supporting the party was held. Mr. Beheshti and I spoke, and then several people spoke about the situation of war refugees, including Mr. [Mostafa] Mir-Salim, head of the War Victims Foundation (Bonyad-e Jangzadegan).

Late at night, we spoke on the phone with [my son] Mohsen, who is studying in Belgium. He was satisfied with the work of the embassy, the activities of the Islamic Association, the influence of the Revolution among Arab Islamic students, and the weakness of the counter-revolution.