Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – January 3, 2003

Today, sharp attacks were launched against the Participation [Front] in most Friday prayers, and the espionage of social researcher Abbas Abdi has been taken as an established fact. Consequently, in the sermons of places like Shemiran, Shahroud, etc., they demanded the removal of radical Participation members from government and state responsibilities. In a recent statement by the Participation Party, it was noted that if the pressures continue, they will have no choice but to exit the sovereign structure.

A group of students at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad had staged a sit-in to protest the closure of a publication and the two-semester suspension of its editor-in-chief; they finally ended it following a promise from a university official. They had published a letter by [Qasem] Sholeh-Saadi [lawyer and former MP] in the publication. An announcement was released under the name of an unidentified group from Amirkabir University, which included a letter to Hamid Karzai [Chairman of the Transitional State of Afghanistan] asking for his consent for them to study in Afghanistan to escape Iran!! This is flimsy, ridiculous, and likely a forgery.

In Turkey, President [Ahmet Necdet Sezer] approved the parliamentary bill regarding constitutional reform this time, paving the way for individuals like [Necmettin] Erbakan [leader of the Islamic Welfare Party] and [Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan [leader of the Justice and Development Party]. In an unprecedented move, Erdoğan criticized Rauf Denktaş, the leader of the Turkish Cypriots, for his opposition to the UN Secretary-General's plan for Cyprus. Apparently, this is a move to satisfy the European Union, which has stated it will soon accept the Greek part of Cyprus as a member—a matter that was and remains a serious obstacle to Turkey's accession.

The US, Israel, and Turkey conducted a joint naval military exercise!! In Israel, a group of Palestinian prisoners clashed with police regarding the court, and Israeli officers dealt with them with great violence; there was one martyr and four injured. It is strange that Western circles claiming to support human rights pay no heed to these oppressions.

The rival of [Ariel] Sharon [Prime Minister of Israel], who is a military officer, has officially declared that if elected, he will enter negotiations with the Palestinians without delay and is ready to evacuate some of the settlements. This same officer had filed a lawsuit against Sharon during his crimes in Lebanon, which led to Sharon's removal from the Ministry of Defense.

In Afghanistan, the lack of electricity has frustrated the people, and the government has so far been unable to take proper action; fuel is also scarce.

Registration for city and village councils has been open for a few days, but it seems there are very few candidates [especially for villages]. By this afternoon, only 51,000 people had registered. About 200,000 people are needed for the whole country, which normally would require more than a million registrations. Due to the performance of the councils in the current term, their credibility has diminished—especially the Tehran City Council, whose news reflects across the country and is a disgrace. The Ministry of Interior asked the media and prominent figures to encourage and justify participation to the people.

In Europe, storms, floods, and cold weather have continued for several days, causing many casualties. In all cities of Pakistan today, after Friday prayers, there were widespread demonstrations against the warmongering policies of the United States.

In the US, a strongly worded statement was released by numerous anti-war movements; citing economic and security problems, poverty, and discrimination in the US, they expressed concern over the potential negative consequences of a war with Iraq. Meanwhile, a few moments ago, [George] Bush [President of the United States] announced at a military base that Saddam Hussein [President of Iraq] has closed all doors to a peaceful solution, leaving no path but war. The Israeli government has declared that Iraq has sent its weapons of mass destruction to Syria.