Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - November 12, 2000 - The Beginning of the Trial of Those Accused of Participating in the Conference Known as Berlin in the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Tehran

The Beginning of the Trial of Those Accused of Participating in the Conference Known as Berlin in the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Tehran

Hashemi's account of the reactions from reformist media regarding the Guardian Council's rejection of the Sixth Parliament's interpretive resolution is cautious. The Guardian Council deemed the urgent interpretive proposal regarding the amendment of Article 9 of the Press Law concerning the transformation or alteration of newspaper publication statuses as contrary to Islamic law, referencing Ayatollah Khamenei's decree about the Press Law. The Leader of the Islamic Republic considered amending the Press Law contrary to the interests of the regime in this letter, which was regarded as a governmental decree. 

The Guardian Council's action demonstrated the Leader's authority, as his statements were cited by the Council, establishing a precedent. However, the reformists' objection was based on the fact that, according to the Constitution, this Council is required to assess the conformity of parliamentary resolutions with Islamic law and the Constitution. This issue would later be cited in relation to other parliamentary resolutions, especially from the Sixth Parliament.

The trial of those accused of participating in the Berlin conference began in the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Tehran. Hashemi interestingly recounts how President Seyyed Mohammad Khatami's trip to Japan was overshadowed by news surrounding the Leader, suggesting that Ayatollah Khamenei intentionally arranged meetings and news coverage with this aim.

Full Daily Entry: From early morning until four in the afternoon, I was at the Koushk office, and in the evening until ten at home, working on research about Imam Mahdi (AS), the Airbus crash scenario, bulletins, and newspapers. The reformist media, although angry about the rejection of the Parliament's interpretation by the Guardian Council, have not been extreme out of fear of shutdowns. 

The trial of the attendees of the Berlin conference has begun. The left is dissatisfied with the overshadowing of news about Mr. Khatami's trip to Japan due to the abundance of news from the Leader over the past two days, but they refrain from voicing their complaints. In their internal meetings, they claim that the Leader intentionally schedules meetings during such times to create news.

This afternoon, a bomb exploded in the West Jerusalem market, killing and injuring several Israelis, with the Islamic Jihad claiming responsibility. In light of the Israeli soldier's death during yesterday's clashes, some Israeli officials are discussing the possibility of war, although they have reached an understanding with the Palestinian Authority to reduce tensions; however, the public and groups pay little attention to these agreements.