Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – December 25, 1998

I was at home. Most of the time was spent reading the bulletins and the book "Wind and Rain in the Qur'an", [Engineer Mehdi Bazargan] and [the book "Dard Zamaneh"], the memoirs of Mohammad Ali Amouyi. Fati was at home sewing sheets for hospitals and prepared iftar and suhoor for me. Efat and Mr. [Mohammadreza] Nouri [Shahrudi] informed from Saudi Arabia that Efat will return tonight. Shirin Khanum, an Afghan worker, had also come to clean the house for modesty.

In the evening Mr. [Syed Mohammad] Khatami, the president came. We talked about the major issues of the country; He is saddened by the lack of income, problems of unemployment and insecurity, and the lack of cooperation between the [Ministry of] Intelligence and the National Security Force and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, factional disturbances, and the lack of necessary support from the leadership. It was discussed about the conviction of Mr. Karbaschi; We both decided to ask the leadership to pardon him.

The conviction of Mr. [Asadullah] Bayat was discussed in the special [Clergy] court. He said, he has asked the leadership to help, but they have not accepted. His case was brought by Mr. Mohammadi Golpaygani, [head of the leadership office] and he showed that he sold a factory that was not related to him for another job; Because he did not intend to take personal abuse, he can be helped, but the leadership does not think it is appropriate to take action.

Regarding the recent murders, he believes that the Ministry of Information, by pointing fingers at a specific person, wants to attribute it to the left wing. We discussed the possible problems of council elections and the possible reduction of the government's authority over the administration of cities and villages. He wondered how I managed to do this for eight years. He is worried that the foreigners, who have behaved well so far, will adopt a negative approach when they see the government's weakness. He said, Mr. [Morris] Kapithorne, [Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran], told Mr. [Ali] Khoram, [Iranian Representative at the European Office of the United Nations in Geneva], that if the issue of murders inside is not clarified, he will ask the [United Nations] Security Council to send a delegation to Iran to investigate. In this case, issues similar to Libya and Iraq will arise. He was not satisfied with some of the leadership's discussions in today's Friday sermons, and he is also happy with some of the contents.