Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - October 1, 2001 - Kamal Kharrazi's advice to Hashemi regarding potential extremism during tomorrow’s Friday prayer in Tehran

Speech at the Seminar on the Ideological Defense and the Mission of Universities and Listening to the Welcome Address by Sheikh Ahmad Ahmadi and the Presentation of Questions from University Professors

Kamal Kharrazi's advice to Hashemi regarding potential extremism during tomorrow’s Friday prayer in Tehran

Full diary entry:

At ten in the morning, I went to the [conference on the Sacred Defense and the Mission of Universities] to speak in front of the Islamic Studies professors at [Allameh Amiri Hall] in the Faculty of Theology [Tehran University]. Due to the late arrival of the guests, it started with a one-hour delay. Mr. [Ahmad] Ahmadi welcomed the attendees and raised the questions from the professors. The goal was to enhance the professors' knowledge so they could respond to the questions and ambiguities of the students. Most inquiries were about the war, its causes, the prolonged duration, the resolution that ended the war, its achievements, and the current situation in the world and region following the September 11 explosions in America, as well as the dangers arising from it. I spoke on these topics and answered the questions.

I went to the Kouchak. I spent time resting and enjoying the sauna and pool until four in the afternoon, then in the evening, I focused on studying the sermons for tomorrow's Friday prayer and the numerous reports on the current world situation. Today, in Zug, Switzerland, an armed man [named Friedrich Laibacher, 57 years old] entered the local parliament and killed 14 people [including three representatives] with his weapon and explosives, injuring 18 others before killing himself; he seems to have been a disgruntled resident of Switzerland. In Algeria, armed groups have massacred 22 people; such incidents regularly occur in Algeria. In Palestine, despite the ceasefire and yesterday's negotiations by [Yasser] Arafat, [the president of the Palestinian Authority], the Israelis have attacked [the city of] Rafah, killing and injuring several people.

In Italy, [Silvio Berlusconi], the Prime Minister, audaciously attacked Islam, stating that Islam has remained at the same level for the past fourteen hundred years and that Western civilization is superior to Islamic civilization, which has provoked anger among Muslims and led to many protests and calls for his apology.

The American White House, following yesterday's remarks by the Leader, accused Iran of supporting terrorism and stated that Iran must clarify its position. Mr. [Kamal] Kharrazi, [the Minister of Foreign Affairs], called me and advised me to be careful during the Friday prayer tomorrow, warning that the extremism of radicals might escalate. He mentioned that the head of the European delegation that had recently visited Iran called from Riyadh to inquire about the reasons for the Leader's change in position.