Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – April 8, 1999

I studied at home until eleven. I went to the Koushk Office and stayed there until four in the afternoon, with the bulletins and newspapers taking up my time. The main issue in today’s newspapers was Faezeh’s interview, which she had given yesterday. She had attacked the Revolutionary Court over the suspension of Zan newspaper, calling it the beginning of an assault on the press aimed at clearing the way for the parliamentary elections, and had answered questions. Most newspapers published part of the interview and also provided analysis. They published the statement of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, which attacked the Revolutionary Court’s action. The statement also criticized the actions of Zan newspaper. They also published the Revolutionary Court’s statement. The right-wing media took a negative and confrontational position. The left-wing and moderate media, with some differences, expressed sympathy with and opposition to the Revolutionary Court, while some also criticized Zan newspaper for giving the right-wing faction an excuse under these circumstances.

Foreign radio stations also regarded the issue as important and devoted considerable airtime to it. It also received extensive coverage in the international media, most of which presented it as a criticism of the Judiciary for taking action to restrict freedom, as well as an intensification of political conflicts and the beginning of a new offensive by the right against the moderates. Effat was also very exasperated and could not bear to see so much commotion and political agitation over such a simple matter.

Regarding international affairs, the issue of Kosovo and the attack on Yugoslavia, as well as the suspension of sanctions against Libya following the handover of the two suspects, were receiving attention. In the afternoon and evening, I spent a great deal of time organizing the library. There is no subject-based classification, and finding the book I want is difficult in its current state. My books are kept in three locations, the basement, the study, and the computer room, on three different floors, and sometimes they need to be moved, requiring me to go up and down the stairs.

[1] Mrs. Effat Marashi, the wife of Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani, also kept a daily diary in 1999. In her entry for April 8, she wrote: “After breakfast, Aqa Sheikh Akbar left, and I stayed home with my sick body and tired mind. I studied and made phone calls until noon. I had lunch. I sent Mr. Dehghan to bring the morning newspapers. I read Faezeh’s interview. They all consider this response disproportionate to the Revolutionary Court and regard it as illegal, while of course they consider Faezeh’s action a mistake, since the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance is responsible for this matter, and he had also issued his own warning. Aqa Sheikh Akbar came at four. He brought the evening newspapers. Kayhan and Resalat had written the interview in such a way that it appeared inflammatory, repeating the word ‘counterrevolutionary’ several times. I became very angry and shouted, ‘What kind of situation is this?’ I went home. Fati and Ashraf said that Faezeh had become more popular. On the walls along Vali-Asr Street, people had written, ‘Faezeh, we support you.’ Reza Hashemian also came and said that Faezeh’s popularity had doubled. I stayed until nine and then came home. I had dinner with Aqa Sheikh Akbar Hazir. I read the newspapers for a while longer and went to sleep.”