Date: March 8, 2001 - Hashemi's Account of Labor Protests and Media Controversies Following the Conviction of Seyyed Mustafa Tajzadeh and Ayatollah Azarami

Hashemi's Account of the Seizure of the Weekly Harem Linked to a Close Associate of Ayatollah Khamenei

The Tehran Public Relations Office issued a statement at that time, indicating:

"The Harem weekly has been seized by the order of Branch 1410 of the Tehran General Court, following a complaint from Hojjatoleslam Ali Zadeh, the head of the Tehran General Judiciary, for printing an article against Mr. Khatami. The weekly, in its recent issue, mocked the electoral slogans of Mr. Khatami, and although it did not explicitly mention him, the published article is a clear instance of implicit criticism. For this reason, the order for its seizure was issued."

Seyyed Mohammad Khatami's Readiness to Present a Performance Report in the Sixth Parliament

Hashemi's Account of Labor Protests and Media Controversies Following the Conviction of Seyyed Mustafa Tajzadeh and Ayatollah Azarami

Complete Daily Record:

I was working in the Koshk office. I wrote an introduction for the book "Imam Ali (AS) in Hashemi Rafsanjani's Discourse," which collects my statements about Imam Ali (AS) over the past twenty years. I read a report on the internal situation in Russia and the Caspian Sea issue, as well as various reports and bulletins.

The Tehran Judiciary has seized the Harem weekly because its latest issue included offensive satire against Mr. Seyyed Mohammad Khatami, the President, mocking his unfulfilled slogans. This swift action seems aimed at dispelling allegations of partiality within the judiciary, as this weekly is owned by a close associate of the leadership. Last week, the Feyziyeh publication also published a derogatory article against Mr. Khatami.

Mr. Khatami is scheduled to speak in Parliament on Sunday to report on his government's performance. The Second Khordadi Movement is heavily promoting this, while some opposing factions claim that this is an unprecedented move and merely an electoral campaign tactic.

For several days now, workers from several key factories have been protesting their situation, demanding delayed wages and higher pay, likely to pressure the wage council for increases. Cultural workers are also gathering and issuing statements in this regard. Leftist students are staging protests against the judiciary, with some targeting liberals. The situation remains tense. Media statements and foreign groups' actions against the judiciary, ostensibly in support of the Second Khordadi Movement, following Mr. Mustafa Tajzadeh's conviction, are remarkable.

The U.S. government has declared the agreement reached by the [Bill] Clinton administration with North Korea regarding long-range missiles null and void, citing concerns over North Korea's sincerity. [Ariel] Sharon, the leader of the Likud party, has formed his coalition government and has adopted a threatening stance against the Palestinians, especially following an explosion a few days ago in northern Tel Aviv that resulted in the deaths of three people and injuries to 60 others.