Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – August 26, 2003

Last night, Sara, Fati's daughter, had sent me food; I was alone. In a letter, she had apologized for not being able to come due to the doctor's order for absolute rest because of difficulties with her twin pregnancy; I was moved. This became a historical note.

After morning prayers, the guards informed me that last night Sara had experienced pain and was taken to the hospital, and at 4:30 in the morning, she gave birth to twin girls via cesarean section. I called the hospital. I spoke with her husband, Mohammad Lahouti, and Sara; she is doing well, and because the babies were premature, they have been placed in incubators. They were born a month earlier than the natural due date. The doctor had previously said they were twins and girls. Since Effat and Fati are not here, we are a bit worried. It has been decided that they will not continue their trip and will return.

Due to the explosions in India and the discovery of explosives on a railway line, and given the history of such actions in India and the accusation against Lashkar-e-Taiba, which is based in Pakistan, there is a possibility of tension in the region; although Pakistan has condemned it. Stock values on the Indian stock exchange fell by three percent.

The Judiciary has announced that two employees of the Ministry of Intelligence have been found guilty in the case of Zahra Kazemi and an indictment has been issued. The Ministry of Intelligence quickly denied it, and Zahra Kazemi's son, Stephan Hashemi, did not consider it sufficient. This hasty action has fueled the issue.

American Democrats have put pressure on George Bush due to mistakes and mismanagement in Iraq and America's problems there. General Richard Myers has said that US and British forces in Iraq are insufficient and other countries should send troops. 500,000 troops are needed to manage Iraq. The US has 140,000 troops and has officially expressed its inability to establish security and manage Iraq.

Mr. Seyyed Mohammad Mehdi Tabatabai, the director of the Jamiat al-Quran, along with three child memorizers of the Quran, came. They gave a report on the expansion of their work across the country and sought assistance.

Dr. Mehdiān Tuisirkani, along with a group of university professors, came. They thanked me for the help I had given in previous years for their treatment and sending them abroad. They made suggestions regarding teachers and instructors and the need for the Leader to be accountable to the Assembly of Experts.

Messrs. Amir Tehrani and Moein from the Ministry of Intelligence came. They gave a full report on the Zahra Kazemi case, from her arrest to her death. They complained about the Judiciary, saying their agents had been unjustly found guilty. Later, it became known that they had told parliamentarians, and the Article 90 Commission and representatives had taken the Ministry's side in this dispute, putting great pressure on the judiciary and causing a disgrace to the system. I gave them the letter from Mr. Mohammad Ali Nabizadeh, the representative of Gachsaran, regarding the conspiracy of the Kurdish tribal khans, for follow-up.

In the evening, Mr. Ali Banitrafi, the former Friday prayer leader of Susangerd, came and complained about the treatment he had received and expressed his readiness to become active in relation to the Banitrafi tribe. He said they number about 100,000 and are valiant Shiites. He is currently the head of the Endowments Office and the prayer leader in Abadan. His son, who is a seminary student, was with him.

The situation of the occupiers in Iraq has been worse than before. A few days ago, the Americans announced that they had arrested Ali Hassan al-Majid, Saddam's cousin, known as Chemical Ali. He was known for being responsible for the chemical bombardment of Halabja, and it had previously been said that he was killed during the war, but his name appeared on the fifth list of the 55 most-wanted. They hope to get closer to Saddam through him. In Afghanistan, there was a large clash in Zabul, and it was announced that 64 Taliban had been killed in Zabul and Kandahar.

At night, I stayed in my office. I called Sara to check on her; she and one of the twins are doing well, but the condition of the other is not favorable. Fati has also returned from Syria to care for Sara.