Memories of Akbar Hashemi - October 7, 2000 - Hashemi's Account of the Attack on Mohammad Khatami's Convoy in Caracas

• Visit to the Newly Established Qazvin Province and Discussions with Local Officials
• Release of the National Security Council's Report on Events at the Office of Strengthening Unity Against the IRGC and the Basij
• Account of the Attack on Mohammad Khatami's Convoy in Caracas, Involving Eggs Being Thrown at Him and Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, the Minister of Oil

Full Text of the Daily Note:

At eight o'clock in the morning, we flew by helicopter from Manzariyeh to Qazvin, arriving around nine. The provincial officials welcomed us, and I gave a brief interview. We then visited Sheikh al-Islam School, where scholars and clergy from Qazvin had gathered in the adjacent mosque. Following the warm welcome from Mr. Hadi Barikbin, the Friday Prayer Leader of Qazvin, I delivered a detailed speech about the clergy's longstanding relationship with the people throughout history, their significant role in the Constitutional Revolution and the Islamic Revolution, and the necessity of the government attending to its needs in this domain. There are about 250 male students and 200 female students in the seminary.

Next, we headed to Imam Khomeini International University, where the student Basij had a good gathering. I received a warm welcome and spoke extensively about the university's establishment goals, the allocation of slots for martyrs' families, and the need to deepen Islamic thoughts at the university, as well as the imperialist hostility toward the Islamic Revolution, which threatens their interests. I answered several questions. Both sessions were lively, organized, and enthusiastic.

For prayer, lunch, and rest, we went to the governor's guesthouse. Throughout the journey, the governor and the Friday Prayer leader were in my car, explaining the province's situation. The newly established province was created with my help, and the people of Qazvin are grateful for that. At the table, Mr. Ali-Asghar Varsei, the president of the international university, mentioned that there had been a discussion in the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council about relocating the university from Qazvin to another place, but they were opposed to it.

In the afternoon, we went to the shrine of Imamzadeh Hossein, where it was said that he was the two-year-old son of Imam Reza (PBUH) who passed away here on his way to Khorasan. The shrine has a large courtyard, and a huge crowd had gathered for a memorial service for the three thousand martyrs of the province. Two martyr daughters read essays and recited poetry. General Ghaffari welcomed the attendees, and I delivered a detailed speech about the war, the martyrs, and the consolidation of the revolution. The gathering was very enthusiastic, with warm slogans of support.

We took off from the airport by helicopter, and Mr. Mohammad Hassan Abutorabi, the representative from Qazvin, accompanied us. We arrived close to sunset.

The report from the National Security Council regarding the events in Khorramabad was published, implicating the IRGC and the Basij in the incidents. The reports mentioned that eggs were thrown at Mr. Mohammad Khatami's convoy in Caracas, hitting both him and Mr. Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, the Minister of Oil.