Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - May 2, 2000 - Meeting with Eshaq Jahangiri and Recommendation for Hashemi to Console Mohammad Khatami

Meeting with Eshaq Jahangiri and Recommendation for Hashemi to Console Mohammad Khatami

Continuation of discussions by Masih Mohajeri, social advisor to the reformist president and editor-in-chief of the newspaper Jomhouri Eslami, with Hashemi, encouraging him to continue responding to the criticisms from reformists and to persist in the ongoing press censorship that he had initially pursued.

Meeting with Abbas Maleki and the request for the publication of Hashemi's works by the Islamic Culture Publishing Office, along with criticism of Ayatollah Khamenei's lack of attention to the impact of foreign media.

Visit from Seyyed Hossein Hashemi, conveying concerns and criticisms from reformists regarding Hashemi's sermons.

Meeting with Masoud Safiri to inquire about the fate of the elections in Tehran and the continuation of press censorship, to which Hashemi did not provide a clear response.

Meeting with Sheikh Ali Fallahian and a report on the interrogations involving abuse of suspects in the chain murders, announcing his intention to sue those who have defamed him in this regard.

Meeting with Eshaq Jahangiri and recommendation for Hashemi to console Mohammad Khatami.

Mr. Masih Mohajeri, [advisor to the president and editor-in-chief of Jomhouri Eslami], came. He appreciated my Friday sermons and requested responses to criticisms from leftists and the newspaper Bayan, emphasizing the necessity of continuing the process of controlling deviant media. Mr. Abbas Maleki, [from the International Advisory Office of the Leadership], came. He brought ten volumes of a story-based history of the Prophet (PBUH) and spoke about the necessity of paying attention to the impact of foreign media, criticizing the leadership for neglecting this necessity. He mentioned that Americans are willing to negotiate in Paris regarding Iran's frozen assets. He asked me to assign some of my works for publication by [the Islamic Culture Publishing Office] and requested an interview.

Mr. [Seyyed Hossein] Hashemi, a centrist representative, came along with several others. He said that in Parliament, leftist representatives are upset about your Friday sermons because Mr. Khatami's government has been likened to Mr. Banisadr's government; however, most representatives are pleased. I said that my aim is to explain the necessity of cooperation among forces loyal to the revolution against counter-revolutionaries and enemies, identifying the government as part of these loyal forces while stating that critics are biased.

Mr. [Masoud] Safiri, a reporter from Akhbar newspaper, came. He said that media owners who have recently faced pressure expect support from you despite having wronged you. He sought to understand whether press censorship would continue or be lifted and also inquired about the fate of elections in Tehran, which I am unaware of both.

In the afternoon, Mr. [Ali] Fallahian, [former Minister of Intelligence], came. He relayed statements from individuals within the Ministry of Intelligence accused of participating in chain murders who have recently been released, stating they had been coerced into making false confessions under pressure. He expressed objections to the leadership, president, and head of judiciary regarding mismanagement in this matter and mentioned Mr. [Mohammad] Niyazi, [head of the Judicial Organization of Armed Forces], along with interrogations, stating he intends to sue all those who have defamed him in this regard.

Mr. [Eshaq] Jahangiri, [Minister of Industries and Mines], came. While reporting on his ministry's work, including issues arising from the Jajarm alumina project, he informed me about Second Khordad activists' dissatisfaction with my Friday sermons and requested that I console Mr. Khatami and strive for inter-factional understanding as before.