Akbar Hashemi's Memoirs - March 6, 2000 - The Trial of Police Officers Over the Dormitory Incident is a Matter of Great Interest; Many Supporters and Opponents

Meeting with officials from the Imam Khomeini Relief Committee.
Meeting with General Ezzatollah Zarghami, the then Deputy Minister of Defense for Parliamentary Affairs, and discussions on cultural and political matters.
Meeting with Abdullah Jasbi and discussions on election-related and university matters.
Continued issuance of numerous statements of support for Hashemi.
The trial of police officers over the university dormitory incident is attracting considerable attention, with many supporters and opponents.

Officials from the Imam Khomeini Relief Committee visited. Mr. [Seyed Reza] Nouri, [Head of the Imam Khomeini Relief Committee], provided a report. They offer 35 types of services to the underprivileged. They cover 52,000 villages, with most of their work focusing on infrastructure. Mr. [Habibollah] Askar-Oladi, [Representative of the Supreme Leader in the Imam Khomeini Relief Committee], also gave a report, analyzing my history of struggle, management, and patience, citing the verse: “We will surely test you until We know those of you who strive and those who are patient, and We will test your affairs.” I also delivered an encouraging speech regarding the committee’s services.

Mr. [Ezzatollah] Zarghami, [Deputy Minister of Defense for Parliamentary Affairs], visited. He said that he had informed Mr. [Seyed Mohammad] Khatami, [the President], of the problems with this year’s film productions, and Khatami had expressed concern, saying, "I didn’t expect it to reach this point," and also mentioned that the best period for film production was under the Ministry of [Mostafa] Mirsalim. Zarghami also shared his thoughts on the elections and the future parliament, asking whether I intend to enter parliament. He currently serves as the Deputy Minister of Defense for Parliamentary Affairs.

Dr. [Abdullah] Jasbi, [President of Islamic Azad University], came by, reporting that there had been gatherings and protests by some students at the Azad Universities of Rey, Gorgan, and Qazvin. He believes that left-wing factions are provoking these events. He also discussed the second round of elections and proposed some ideas regarding the Azad University in Lebanon.

In the afternoon and evening, I attended to office matters. Numerous statements of support for me and condemnations of the Belgian government have been issued, including from the government, the Guardian Council, the Assembly of Experts, the Islamic Propagation Office of Qom, Hezbollah organizations, the seminary and prayer leaders in Isfahan, the Moderation Party, and others. The newspapers are also widely covering this. However, the right-wing blames the Second Khordad movement for the situation, and they have sent messages saying that these attacks are not helpful and undermine the unity against Belgium. The Belgian government has stated that only a complaint has been submitted to the court and that the court has not taken any action.

In international news, the destructive floods in Mozambique continue to cause problems. Thousands of people who had taken refuge in trees or on rooftops have been rescued by helicopter. The damage and the spread of contagious diseases are severe. Yesterday, the Israeli parliament approved a proposal to withdraw Israeli forces from southern Lebanon within the framework of peace negotiations. In Chechnya, the conflict has turned into a guerrilla war, and Russia’s difficulties will be prolonged. The trial of the police officers over the university dormitory incident is a matter of great interest, with many supporters and opponents.