Akbar Hashemi's Memoirs - June 1, 2001 - Consultative-Political Meeting with Sheikh Masij Mohajeri, Sheikh Mohammad Hasan Rahimian, and the Leader Regarding the Presidential Elections

Continuation of Hashemi's Trip to Qom and Associated Meetings

Complete Diary Entry:

We visited the source of the trout farming pools, where we had breakfast and took a walk. Mr. Masih Mohajeri, the advisor to the president and editor-in-chief of the Islamic Republic newspaper, along with Mr. Mohammad Hasan Rahimian, the head of the Martyrs Foundation, and the leader, expressed their concerns regarding the presidential elections and the dangers of the current situation. The Friday prayer leader and the district governor of Kahak visited, requesting assistance for building a prayer hall and a school. The members of the village council of Fordoo came to seek support for the development of their village and expressed gratitude for my help in creating a street in their area.

In the afternoon, we traveled through the Jalseb plain to the Isfahan road. In the village of Kurgan Jasb, we visited the shrine of Imamzadeh Hamzeh bin Aoun bin Ali (AS). A large crowd was waiting for us. It was supposed to be a surprise visit. They mentioned that the Endowments Organization had informed them, and the Friday prayer leaders from Delijan and Naragh, along with the Delijan governor and Naragh district governor, were also present. I conducted inquiries regarding a report that was broadcast in 1993 about the discovery of an ancient, well-preserved corpse.

Several local dignitaries, the board of trustees of the shrine, and men and women who had taken a piece of the shroud for blessings explained their observations. They claimed the corpse belonged to a young man whose head was severed, with the lower part of the shroud decayed, but the rest of the body remained intact. Mr. Hossein Rajabi, the Friday prayer leader of Delijan, who was invited to see it, confirmed the sighting of the relatively intact leg but expressed his uncertainty about the corpse being ancient or belonging to a revered figure. In conclusion, they brought a small piece of the shroud from their home. I spoke briefly, stating that the matter is important and warrants further investigation. The locals are eager to promote the story to attract more visitors to the area.

We then visited the 15 Khordad Dam, accompanied by Mr. Noysi. He extensively discussed the problems of drought in the region. The dam operator mentioned that only 25 million cubic meters of water remain behind the dam. Only 400 liters per second are being released, despite an incoming flow of only 200 liters per second. We arrived home at 9 PM. On the Qom road, we saw several dozen pedestrians heading to the shrine for the commemoration of the Imam's passing.