Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - December 15, 2000 - Ataollah Mohajerani Resigned, and His Resignation Was Accepted by Seyyed Mohammad Khatami

Following the escalation of claims by Mohammad Salami, Secretary-General of the Organization of Iranian People's Mojahedin, regarding legal actions against Seyyed Mohammad Khatami in the Supreme Court, and the announcement by the Tehran General Court, Hashemi recounts the ongoing media coverage of this issue and the meeting with Behzad Nabavi in this regard, which ultimately led to the formation of a legal case against Mohammad Salami.

After ongoing dissatisfaction expressed by Ayatollah Khamenei and the case against Ataollah Mohajerani regarding the Hajj funds, which was reported by Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, head of the Supreme Audit Court, and extensive consultations regarding this case, as well as the recent iftar meeting between Seyyed Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi and Hashemi Rafsanjani, Ataollah Mohajerani resigned, and this resignation was accepted by Seyyed Mohammad Khatami. Ahmad Masjed-Jamei was appointed as the acting Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance.

Full Entry of the Day:

I stayed at home, spending my time studying and resting. Discussions regarding the political incompetence of the President continue in both domestic and foreign media, fueling divisions; it seems that the Second Khordad faction is regretting bringing this issue up. In yesterday’s meeting, Mr. Behzad Nabavi, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, blamed the right-wing faction, stating that they had raised the issue in your weekly publication, the organ of the Islamic Coalition Party. I said that Mr. Salami should not have inflated the matter.

The acceptance of Mr. Ataollah Mohajerani's resignation, the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, was announced after months of hesitation, with Mr. Ahmad Masjed-Jamei appointed as the acting Minister. This may be portrayed in circles as a retreat by Seyyed Mohammad Khatami, although immediately, Mr. Mohajerani was appointed as the head of the Dialogue of Civilizations Center.

Finally, the U.S. Supreme Court ruling has declared George W. Bush the winner of the presidential election in America. Al Gore congratulated Bush, but the Democrats have stated that they feel their rights have been violated and will likely continue to raise this claim and protest until the end of this term, which may weaken the U.S. government—especially with Congress showing that the votes from both sides are close together. Another scandal for America emerged when the Florida court and the Supreme Court issued two contradictory rulings, solely due to the political and partisan positions of the judges, indicating a breach of neutrality and independence in the U.S. judiciary, and their known political leanings were already apparent.

In Palestine, clashes have intensified, and in Lebanon, discussions have progressed regarding the exchange of Lebanese prisoners held in Israel for three Israeli soldiers captured by Hezbollah, highlighting Israel's weakness. In Pakistan, with the exile of Mr. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, the former Prime Minister, to Saudi Arabia and the enforcement of financial penalties, along with the cooperation of political parties in demanding democracy, a new situation has emerged. In Turkey, financial and economic problems coupled with a sharp decline in stock values, alongside political tensions, have become problematic.