Akbar Hashemi's Memoirs - February 8, 2000 - Meeting with Ayatollah Khamenei and Ignoring the Request of Sheikh Abdullah Nouri for Leniency in Court Sentence and Meeting with the Leader

• Meeting with Qasemzadeh, Artist and Painter, Along with a Journalist from Hamshahri Newspaper and Questions About the Mortar Attack on Tehran's Secure Political Zone
• Meeting with an IRGC Commander (Name Withheld) Regarding the Removal of Mohsen Rezaei from the Electoral List of Kargozaran
• Complaint by Sheikh Ahmad Jannati About the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Intelligence Insisting on Computerized Vote Counting
• Mediation by Sheikh Mohammad Reza Abbasi-Fard, a Member of the Guardian Council, for Hashemi to Help with the Approval of Kourosh Fouladi’s Candidacy for the Sixth Parliament Elections from Khorramabad
• Meeting with Ataollah Mohajerani, Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Following Recent Events and Protests that Made Continuing His Ministry Difficult
• Most Important Entry of the Day: Meeting with Ayatollah Khamenei, Including the Dismissal of Sheikh Abdullah Nouri’s Request for Leniency in His Court Sentence and a Meeting with the Leader, and the Leader’s Comment on the Sheikh Ali Tehrani Case

Mr. Mohammad Bagher Nevisi, the head of Mr. Nateq Nouri's office [Speaker of Parliament], came to give some remarks about electoral campaigns. Mr. Qasemzadeh, the artist and painter, also visited, bringing a painting of me with interesting themes. He was accompanied by a journalist from Hamshahri who asked about the mortars that hit the [Expediency Discernment Council] compound.

Mr. Sheikh Mohammad Reza Ainee-Vand came by. I had studied part of Suyuti’s works with him during my seminary years. He criticized the excessive veneration of Hafez, believing him to be a deviant poet, and also rejected the idea that common colds and influenza are contagious. He asked for help in publishing his book.

One of the IRGC commanders visited. He said that at last night's Kargozaran meeting at Mr. [Gholamhossein] Karbaschi’s house, and upon Karbaschi’s insistence, Mr. Mohsen Rezaei was removed from the electoral list of the Kargozaran party, and he requested my assistance in having him reinstated. I asked my brother, Mohammad, who confirmed the issue and was also displeased.

Messrs. [Hossein] Shamsaei and [Mohammad] Honardoost came and asked me to tell the Kargozaran party to include Mr. Rahbar on their list. At noon, Mr. [Ahmad] Jannati, [Secretary of the Guardian Council], visited, complaining that the Guardian Council is opposed to using computers for vote counting, but the Ministry of Interior is not giving up on it. He also expressed frustration with the Minister of Intelligence’s pressure.

Mr. [Mohammad Reza] Abbasi-Fard, [a member of the Guardian Council], came to ask for help in getting Mr. Kourosh Fouladi’s candidacy approved [for Khorramabad in the Sixth Parliamentary Elections]. In the afternoon, some Basiji artists visited, reporting that 4,000 Basiji artists have been identified, and their selected works were showcased at a gathering. I delivered an extensive speech on the value of committed artists and the Basij movement.

Messrs. [Majid] Qasemi, [Alireza] Sheikh Attar, and [Ali] Mousa-Reza from the Moderation and Development Party came for consultations on their electoral candidate list. I did not give any specific opinion but endorsed the general composition of the list. Mr. [Ataollah] Mohajerani, [Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance], came, saying that continuing his work in the ministry had become difficult, and he had reached a dead-end. He sought advice on resigning, adding that he had not discussed this with anyone else yet. I told him I would give my opinion after consulting with the Leader.

I was a guest of the Leader [Ayatollah Khamenei] in the evening. We discussed Mr. [Ataollah] Mohajerani, [Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance]. The Leader expressed dissatisfaction with his work but did not provide a specific opinion on his resignation. We also discussed Mr. Abdullah Nouri’s requests for leniency in his court sentence and a meeting with the Leader, which were ignored.

Regarding Sheikh Ali Tehrani, the Leader mentioned that he had gone on a hunger strike in Evin Prison, and his wife and daughters were upset, expecting him to be released. However, no action was being taken. The Leader noted that Tehrani’s family claims he was not deserving of an eight-year sentence for mofsed-e-filarz [spreading corruption on Earth], having already served five years in prison, which they believe is sufficient. Tehrani himself also claims his imprisonment is unjust and is on a hunger strike for that reason.

Concerning the sit-in in Qom, the Leader said that it had been brought to an end because of the upcoming elections, but the protestors were still refusing to back down from their demands.