Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - October 19, 2000 - Hashemi's Account of Media Sentiment Against the Judiciary and the Report by the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights

Opening of the annual conference of the Supreme Council of Islamic Labor Councils

Negotiations and reports from Mehdi Hashemi with his father

Hashemi's account of the media environment against the judiciary, this time featuring a report from the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights

Collapse of the podium during a speech by a Hamas representative in Fashafuyeh, Tehran

Full Entry of the Day:

We went to the Ministry of Labor for the opening of the annual conference of the Supreme Council of Islamic Labor Councils. Mr. Hossein Kamali, the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, and Mr. Hassan Sadeghi, the Chairman of the Supreme Council of Islamic Labor Councils, welcomed us. They addressed the problems faced by workers, including unemployment, low wages, the closure of many workplaces and industrial units, poor conditions of social insurance, and the slow process of transferring shares to workers. They expressed gratitude for the numerous past supports, particularly the enactment of the Labor Law and the initiation of share transfers, while chanting slogans against the head of the Social Security Organization. I also gave a detailed speech, stating that if the employment issue is resolved, many ancillary problems will be alleviated. I emphasized that achieving employment is only possible through construction, investment, and production, which require a suitable and secure environment. I warned that political maneuvering and slogans hinder societal peace and security, recalling the experience of the construction period when unemployment decreased from 16.5% to 9% despite the post-war challenges.

I went to the Koshk. I spent my time until 4 PM using the swimming pool, sauna, and jacuzzi, while completing various tasks and resting. In the evening and at night, I studied at home. Fati and Saeed brought dinner from Sahar's house. Mehdi came, and we discussed the country's economic problems, the stagnation of work, and government inaction, especially considering that despite having surplus currency income due to rising oil prices, no progress has been made. They are now considering how to convert currency to rials.

Foreign media, feeding off statements from internal agents, have exerted tremendous pressure on Iran's judiciary, with Maurice Cappuccino, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, providing a very negative report on Iran, stating that Khatami's government has not taken any action. It was reported that the podium at the "Yaran Ali Basij and Sepah" program in Fashafuyeh collapsed during the speech by a Hamas representative, injuring several individuals.