Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - December 12, 2000 - Remarks by Mohammad Salami in a Debate with Mohammad-Reza Bahonar Regarding Efforts to Issue a Vote of No Confidence Against President Khatami in the Supreme Court and the Denial and Charges from the Tehran P

Continued Consultations by Masih Mohajeri, Advisor to the Reformist President, Regarding Restrictions on Political Activists and the Press, and Concerns Over the Treatment of Defendants in the Serial Murders Case, Along with Warnings About the Leakage of Islamic Republic Secrets Through Unauthorized Lawyers, Implicitly Referring to Dr. Nasser Zarafshan, as Well as Other Significant Political Consultations

Meeting with Hamid Akhundi and Requests for Resources, with Hashemi's Warnings and Advice Regarding State Rent-Seeking and the Film Industry

Meeting with Seyyed Reza Niyari, Head of the Imam Khomeini Relief Committee, Accompanied by Beneficiaries of the Committee

Inauguration of the Quranic TV Network and Reports from Ali Larijani and Salman Farahmand

Remarks by Mohammad Salami in a Debate with Mohammad-Reza Bahonar Regarding Efforts to Issue a Vote of No Confidence Against President Khatami in the Supreme Court and the Denial and Charges from the Tehran Public Prosecutor's Office Against Him

Full Entry of the Day:

Mr. Masih Mohajeri, the social advisor to the President and editor-in-chief of the "Jomhouri Islami" newspaper, expressed concerns regarding the serial murders case. He noted that counter-revolutionaries are spreading rumors and that secrets of the regime are leaking through unauthorized lawyers, with Abdolkarim Lahiji, Vice President of the International Federation for Human Rights, allegedly spreading these falsehoods. He criticized the government’s hesitant approach towards counter-revolutionaries, stating that it is ineffective. He also mentioned that during a session at Tarbiat Modares University, some liberal students carrying pictures of Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh disrupted President Khatami's speech.

Mr. Hamid Akhundi, a film and television producer involved in the production of the series "The Revolution Alone," came for an interview to discuss key points in the history of the revolution. Most of the time was spent discussing strategies for financing their projects, as they are considering leveraging state rents. I advised them against this approach.

During iftar, I hosted a large group of teenage boys and girls supported by the Imam Khomeini Relief Committee. Mr. Seyyed Reza Niyari, the head of the committee, reported, and several orphaned girls from the children's center sang a song. I also shared encouraging words with them.

We went to the International Conference Center of the Broadcasting Organization for the inauguration of the Quranic TV network. Mr. Ali Larijani, the head of the Broadcasting Organization, provided a report, and Mr. Salman Farahmand, the network director, and I delivered detailed speeches about important content that can be presented from the Quran in their programs. Part of the program was broadcasted on Channel 2. On the sidelines of the meeting, I urged Mr. Larijani to resolve the financial issues of the film "The Revolution Alone" and to follow up on the draft film about the Airbus incident.

Reports indicate that Mr. Mohammad Salami, the Secretary-General of the Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization, stated in a debate with Mr. Mohammad-Reza Bahonar at the university that a motion for the President's no-confidence vote is currently before the Supreme Court, and they intend to remove the President from office. Mr. Bahonar expressed his ignorance of this matter; however, the Tehran Public Prosecutor's Office immediately denied the claim and stated that Mr. Salami would be prosecuted for spreading false news. It has been raining in Tehran and many other parts of the country for several days.