Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - May 28, 2000 - Continued Repercussions of Hashemi's Resignation from the Sixth Parliament

Opening of the Sixth Parliament and its aftermath.

Meeting with Commander Hassan Danaeifar.

Complaints from Sheikh Abdolmajid Ma’adikhah about the lack of coordination and issues with the mayor of Tehran's District 3 regarding the land for the Islamic Revolution History Foundation.

Further repercussions of Hashemi's resignation from the Sixth Parliament.

For the opening ceremony of the Sixth Parliament, I went to the Parliament from home. Before the official session, Messrs. [Seyed Mohammad] Khatami, the President, and [Seyed Mahmoud Hashemi] Shahroudi, the Chief of the Judiciary, said that my announcement of withdrawal would be detrimental to both the Parliament and the system. During the ceremony, there was the recitation of the Quran, the national anthem, a report from the Parliamentary Administrative Chair, and a message from the Leader. The provisional chairmanship of the Parliament was assumed, followed by remarks from Dr. [Mohammad Ali] Sheikh, [the temporary chairman and representative of Shushtar], who expressed regret over the Parliament being deprived of my presence due to my resignation. He also recalled a ceremony in 1985 where he, as an exemplary educator, received an appreciation plaque from me.

[Abdolvahed Mousavi Lari], the Interior Minister, made several criticisms of the Guardian Council in his report, which were inappropriate. Dr. Sheikh mentioned that part of the report felt more like a personal grievance. The ceremony concluded with a speech by [Seyed Mohammad] Khatami, [the President]. Overall, it was not a bad event.

I returned to my office. In the afternoon, Effat came and criticized parts of the ceremony, especially the negative remarks by the Interior Minister about the Guardian Council. In the evening, [Hassan] Danaeifar, [Deputy for Administrative and Financial Affairs of the Expediency Council], came by and expressed gratitude for my withdrawal. He mentioned that he had requested a meeting earlier to suggest my resignation and said it was a brave and heroic move that would be positively highlighted in history. He added that the legitimacy of the Tehran election was in question, and it was not appropriate for me to enter the Parliament under such circumstances.

[Abdolmajid] Ma’adikhah, [Chairman of the Islamic Revolution History Foundation], also visited. He spoke of the obstructionism by the mayor of District 3 regarding the land for the foundation and how the mayor had been uncooperative from the start, being a politically motivated figure.

In today’s newspapers, many articles expressed regret over my resignation. They acknowledged it as a courageous act, with much praise for my services and background. Letters and statements were issued by the Workers’ House, [the Executives of Construction Party], the Union of Students and Graduates, and others in this regard. The leftist newspapers, while praising the action, also engaged in some slander. The wave of letters and phone calls expressing dismay at my withdrawal is vast, with some messages conveyed through poems, songs, and criticism of my opponents.