Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani's Memoirs - April 8, 1999 - Publication of a Harsh Statement by the Qom Seminary's Society of Seminary Teachers Regarding the Reformist Government

Publication of a Harsh Statement by the Qom Seminary's Society of Seminary Teachers Regarding the Reformist Government

* Harsh Statement by the Qom Seminary's Society of Seminary Teachers: The Society issued a strong statement criticizing the Reformist government, which was actually issued on April 6, 1999, but Rafsanjani recorded it in his diary entry for April 8, 1999. This was followed by a sharp statement from the IRGC regarding the assassination of Saeed Hajjarian.

* Continuing Dispute Between the Ministry of Intelligence and the Judiciary: The dispute continued, leading to allegations of torture (ta'zir) against Mohammad Ali Moqaddami, one of the suspects in the assassination of Saeed Hajjarian. This resulted in the intervention of Sheikh Hadi Marvi, the then-first deputy of the Judiciary, and later, the then-head of the Judiciary assigned Sheikh Marvi to investigate the matter.

* Society of Seminary Teachers' Statement: The Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom issued a harsh statement outlining issues with the government's performance and raising numerous objections to the government's and the press's actions. The IRGC also issued a strong statement yesterday regarding the partisan actions of the leftists in the Hajjarian assassination case. Since the New Year (Norooz), criticism and attacks against the government have intensified.

* Ministry of Intelligence and Judiciary Dispute: The dispute between the Ministry of Intelligence and the Judiciary regarding the assassination suspects continues, with each accusing the other of torturing Mohammad Ali Moqaddami, a member of the assassination team. The leftists are concerned about proving the involvement of Ahmad Hakimi Pour, a member of the Tehran City Council, in planning the assassination, while the Judiciary insists on a more thorough investigation to uncover the truth. The discovery of two letters from Hakimi Pour and his contradictory statements have strengthened the suspicions, and Moqaddami's father is also pursuing the matter.

* Work on 1982 Memoirs: Rafsanjani spent time in his office at the Koushk from 11 am to 5 pm, primarily working on the final edits of his 1982 memoirs (following the crisis).

* Nawaz Sharif's Sentence in Pakistan: A court in Pakistan sentenced former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to two life sentences, confiscation of assets, and a fine of two million rupees. There was a possibility of the death penalty, and the Pakistani armed forces' readiness heightened the probability of execution.

* Mary Robinson's Report on Chechnya: Mary Robinson, the UN Special Envoy to Chechnya, submitted a report highlighting the dire human rights situation in Chechnya. The possibility of imposing sanctions on Russia is being discussed in the German Parliament.

* Hirmand River Drying Up: Due to drought, the Hirmand River has dried up, putting the Sistan region at serious risk of water scarcity. Balochistan is facing a similar situation.

* Zimbabwe's Land Issue: The situation in Zimbabwe continues, with supporters of President Robert Mugabe seeking to reclaim land from white landowners. This is despite the fact that after the revolution, their pride was in tolerating white people, which had contributed to economic growth, prosperity, and peaceful coexistence.