Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – December 13, 1996

A group of employees of the Secretariat of the Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution came. Mr. [Mustafa] Mirslim, [Secretary of the Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution], gave a work report. I also talked about culture, the vastness of the territory of culture issues, and the multiplicity and abundance of factors that create society's culture. I criticized the fact that people and officials are blamed for cultural issues and said that our society is in a better position culturally than other countries and we should also use the language of encouragement.

[Mr. Ali Yaqoubi], the representative of Bahar and Kobudar Ahang Hamedan, came. While appreciating my many services for the development of the country and its region, he asked for more help. [Mr. Sidas Ismail Mousavi], Imam Juma, [Mr. Sajjad Kazemi], the governor and representatives of Zanjan province came there to appreciate my trip. They brought gifts and requested that in the matter of Qazvin becoming a province, we should not let the vineyard be separated from Zanjan and join Qazvin. In the same meeting, [Mr. Rajab Rahmani], the representative of the vineyard, asked against it. I said that the issue is currently in the parliament, they should follow up from there. Although it is fair that they should be connected there due to its proximity to Qazvin.

Mr. [Abbas] Akhundi, Minister of Housing [and Urban Development] came. He gave a report on the reform of the structure of the central square of Qom and Astan, and I also gave my comments; In Qom, scholars disagree. In the evening, we traveled to Qom by car. On the way, we saw the design of the shrine to the shrine. Both sides of the road have been greened with trees and there is a part left. Must be completed.

We reached Qom in the evening. We got off behind Fayzia school, next to the river. We passed Faizah school. The students, who were surprised by our unexpected presence, gathered around me and expressed their love with many emotions and slogans. We could not watch the school. Mr. Sheikh Alipanah Eshtredi, who is currently a prayer leader in the school, came and expressed his love.

From there we went to the Astana office. We prayed Maghrib and Isha prayers and went to Grand Mosque for the anniversary of his father's death. The community of teachers and Astana and the assembly of experts have taken. A large crowd had gathered at the ceremony and students. They expressed passionate feelings. A large number of scholars, including Mr. Meshkini and Mr. Mousavi Ardabili, came and were with me. Mr. [Abdullah] Fatemi Nia gave a speech and Mr. [Syed Mohammad] Kothari recited a prayer.

Then we went to Astana office for dinner. I saw the plans to modify the structure around the shrine. Mr. Abdullah Nouri narrated a dream of a person in which the deceased Abui complained that I had not visited his grave in some of his trips to Qom. I went to the shrine and then to the grave of his father, because of the crowd and many emotions, we could not stay long. I went to visit the grave of the deceased Abui in the new cemetery. We also recited a Fatiha there. One of the Iraqi refugees also came there; He recited some prayers and Quran. I wanted to help, but he refused. They said that he was one of the rich people of Iraq whom Saddam displaced.

We returned to Tehran. We arrived home at ten o'clock at night. Chastity had arrived home before us. Before noon, he had gone to Qom and to the house of Akhwan Marashi, and after the evening meeting of the ceremony at his father's grave, he went to the house of a veteran. Last week, at Agha Mirza Ahmed's ceremony, he gave him a letter and expressed extreme poverty. The veteran was surprised to see the president's wife in his house and thanked for the help.