Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - August 1, 2000 - Seyyed Mohammad Khatami's Request for a Report on Torture of Suspects in the Chain Murders Case During the Assembly Session

Seyyed Mohammad Khatami's Request for a Report on the Torture of Chain Murder Suspects in the Assembly and the Considerations of Some Assembly Members in a Private Meeting
Continued Debates on Judicial Centralization Policies and a Request to Ayatollah Khamenei to Reconsider the Issue of Ta'zirat
Opening of the Youth Followers of Ahlul Bayt Seminar
Continued Press Disputes, Involving Kayhan, Iran, and IRNA

The Assembly [of Expediency Discernment] held a session. The general policy of concentrating judicial matters within the judiciary was approved. It was also proposed that the Assembly request from the Leader [Ayatollah Khamenei] to reintroduce the matter of Ta'zirat (Islamic disciplinary punishments) for review, with the aim of separating judicial from executive [government] matters. Mr. [Seyyed Mohammad] Khatami [the President] requested that the issue of the mistreatment of suspects in the Chain Murders case, which was previously raised but left incomplete in the Assembly, be discussed again so he could provide further explanation.

At noon, I hosted guests including Mr. [Ali Akbar] Nategh [Nouri], [Ahmad] Jannati, [Abbas Va'ez] Tabasi, [Mohammad Ali Movahedi Kermani, Mohammad Yazdi], and [Ghorbanali] Dorri [Najafabadi]. They expressed opinions on readdressing the issue that Mr. Khatami had raised. We also discussed the upcoming presidential elections and the rejection by the [Islamic Iran Participation Front] regarding the Leader's proposal on defining reforms. I also talked with Mr. Tabasi about my upcoming trip to Mashhad.

In the afternoon, I went to the International Conference Center for the opening of the Youth Followers of Ahlul Bayt seminar. Participants from fifty countries attended, invited by the Ahlul Bayt World Assembly. Dr. [Ali Akbar] Velayati [Secretary-General of the Ahlul Bayt World Assembly] welcomed the attendees and gave a brief report. I delivered a speech on the status of the Ahlul Bayt and the great potential of youth for growth and development.

I returned to my office and worked until 9:30 PM. The disputes between [the newspaper] Kayhan, Iran, and the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) have intensified. Both sides are engaging in mutual exposés. Foreign entities are supporting the news agency, while right-wing media back Kayhan and left-wing media support Iran and the news agency. The latest clash stems from Kayhan's exposé accusing some liberals of receiving money from Human Rights Watch.