Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - July 21, 2000 - Report on the Reactions to Friday Prayers Sermons Across the Country Following Ayatollah Khamenei’s Speech

A Report from One of the Workers at Hamid Porcelain Factory in Qom Regarding the Exploitation by Private Sector

Meeting with Seyyed Hossein Marashi Ali-Abadi, Brother-in-Law of Hashemi, and His Professional Complaints

Permission for Fatemeh Hashemi’s Frequent Travels Abroad for Further Studies

Consultation with Mohsen Hashemi on Publishing the 1982 Memoirs

I stayed home today. Most of my time was spent reading and talking with guests. One of the workers from the Hamid porcelain factory in Qom came by and spoke about the mistreatment of contract workers by private sector managers. He mentioned that for years, to evade labor laws, worker contracts have mostly been temporary. He also shared some ways private companies evade taxes by producing two separate invoices.

Agha Seyyed Hossein Marashi [Ali-Abadi], [my brother-in-law], came from Rafsanjan and complained about the severe recession in Rafsanjan due to the unsold pistachios, drought, insecurity, and lack of agricultural resources. He recited a poem he had written for me. Fatemeh requested permission to travel abroad frequently for her doctoral studies and to improve her language skills. I discussed with Mohsen [director of the Office of the Publication of Islamic Revolution Teachings] how to finalize the 1982 memoirs [After the Crisis].

In the Friday prayer sermons, most spoke about the dangers of American-style reforms and the need to control and define reforms. The [Islamic Iran Participation Party] members, however, argue against the government’s definition of reforms, positioning themselves in direct opposition to the Leader’s statements. Yet, at the same time, they present the Leader’s words as support for reforms. The Leader remains silent; they interpret this as a sign of weakness, not tolerance.