Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - July 15, 2000 - Report by Sheikh Mehdi Karroubi on the Situation in the Sixth Parliament and Request to Discuss the Chain Murders in the Expediency Council

Formation of the Infrastructure Commission Meeting in the Expediency Council and Approval of Several Articles on the General Policies of Communications

Meeting with Eshaq Jahangiri and a Report on the Final Decision to Merge the Ministries of Mines and Metals with Industry and Mines, as well as the Ministries of Jihad Sazandegi and Agriculture

Meeting of the Heads of the Three Branches at the President's Office and Report by Mohammad Khatami on His Trip to Germany, the Case of the Chain Murders, and Responsibility for the Mortar Attacks on the Ministry of Intelligence Claimed by the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization

Report by Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi on Ayatollah Khamenei's Order to Address the Torture Allegations by the Defendants, Though No Final Outcome Has Been Announced Yet

A Significant and Rather Strange Point Was the Opinion of the Head of the Judiciary That Complaints Against the Judge, Which Appears to Refer to Judge Sheikh Mohammad Niazi or the Religious Judge Who Ordered the Torture as Part of the 'Ta'zir' Punishment, Should Not Be Addressed in the Special Clergy Court. Instead, It Should Be Considered a Violation and Addressed in the Disciplinary Court of Judges

This Interpretation, Which Removes the Criminal Nature of Torture Accusations in Violation of Article 38 of the Constitution and the Islamic Penal Code, Reducing It to a Judicial Violation, Is Highly Controversial

The Infrastructure Commission of the Expediency Council met today and approved two articles of the general policies related to communications. In the afternoon, Mr. [Eshaq] Jahangiri [Minister of Mines and Metals] came and provided a report on the Ministry of Mines. He confirmed that the merger of the Ministries of Industry and Mines, as well as Jihad Sazandegi and Agriculture, is final. He also suggested considering measures to stimulate economic growth and boost construction activities.

In the evening, there was a meeting of the Heads of the Three Branches at the office of Mr. [Mohammad] Khatami [President]. Mr. Khatami reported on his trip to Germany and expressed satisfaction with the results. The discussion also addressed how to handle the defendants involved in the Chain Murders case. News came in that several mortar shells had fallen in the open area of the Ministry of Intelligence, causing no casualties. The Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization claimed responsibility for the attack, stating they had fired 20 mortars, though only 10 were confirmed.

Mr. [Mahmoud] Shahroudi [Head of the Judiciary] said that Ayatollah Khamenei had requested that the complaints of the tortured defendants be addressed. However, his personal opinion was that if complaints are to be made against a judge, it should be handled by the Disciplinary Court of Judges rather than the Special Clergy Court.

Mr. [Mehdi] Karroubi [Speaker of the Parliament] expressed concerns over the radicalism of the Participation Front members in the Parliament and asked Mr. Khatami to bring up the Chain Murders issue in the Expediency Council. It was announced that Iran had successfully conducted another test of the Shahab-3 missile. Reports indicate a strong possibility of failure in the Camp David 2 negotiations, despite the extension of talks.