Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – May 21, 1997

In the reports, the separation of a part of [Abdul Rashid] Dostum's forces and joining the Taliban in Afghanistan, the capture of Ismail Khan [Governor of Herat] and his forces, and the fall of Faryab, as well as the impeachment of Arbakan's opponents in the Turkish Parliament, are of interest. Iran's [presidential] election is hardly noticed by foreign media.

Mr. Rahmani came and explained about the Sina Khodro case. Mr. [Hossein Ali] Niri came from the Supreme Court of the country. He applied for additional expenses and expressed concern about the differences between the clergy in the elections and doubted the good intentions of the Sina Khodro Court, which is now in court.

Mr. [Mohammed Hossein] Rezaei, the person in charge of [the organization of] Hajj [and pilgrimage] came. He gave the Hajj report and thanked me for my Friday sermons. He said that people are very grateful for these talks. Mr. [Abulfazl] Tawakli Bina, [president's adviser on trade union affairs] came. He gave a report on Hajj and the works of the Pakistan Charity Foundation. [Mr. Hedayat Lotfian], the commander of Naja [= police force] came. As usual, he said and relied on many negative things in Naja's situation.

In the evening, in the meeting of the government board, we had some resolutions; including the cancellation of publishing monopolies. Mohsen reported that the Ministry of Interior says that they have been told by the leadership office not to give cards to the inspectors for the elections. I spoke to the leader on the phone and asked; They said that it was reported that they asked 500 people from Tahkeem Vahdat office for cards. They have banned it so that it does not become a tool for their negative propaganda. I said that the report is not true. It was decided to remove the ban. I worked in my office until ten at night and came home.