Akbar Hashemi's Memoirs - February 2, 2002

The Ministry of Interior has rejected the qualifications of a group of Freedom Movement candidates for Tehran City Council, which has caused surprise and strong criticism.

Full text of the daily:

It was snowing in the morning when we went to the office. The municipality usually pours sand and gravel [and salt] on the slopes of Yaser Street when it snows, but today it was not poured. The car was slippery and we were delayed. The journey to the office took 50 minutes; it usually takes 35 minutes. An example of the chaos in the municipality [of Tehran] is the dissolution of the council and the dismissal of the mayor.
In the morning, we had a meeting with the deputies of the Strategic Research Center [the Expediency Discernment Council]. It was decided to implement a project to raise Iran's position in the assessment of scientific creation in world scientific publications. The disagreement between financial officials was addressed. We had a discussion about the situation in Iraq and the possibility of war.
The evening of the Fajr celebration came. Mr. [Mohammad Hossein] Zare, [the head of the central headquarters of the Fajr celebration of the Islamic Revolution] reported. I spoke about the necessity of informing the new generation of the greatness of the revolution and paving the way for more people to attend the ceremony and prepare for a more magnificent celebration of the Fajr celebration next year, which marks a quarter of a century since the revolution. They were disappointed with the government’s lack of attention.
The Ministry of Interior has rejected the qualifications of a group of Freedom Movement candidates for Tehran City Council, which has caused surprise and strong criticism.
Reza Pahlavi has attended and given a speech in a meeting attended by 30 Lords of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom; In a press interview, reporters asked him many questions about the corruption and dictatorship of the Pahlavi era in Iran, the influence of foreigners, and the plundering of Iranian property by the courtiers abroad, and he was embarrassed and unable to answer. In addition, Mr. [Kamal] Kharrazi, [Minister of Foreign Affairs], attended a session of the European Parliament and gave a speech. There, he was also asked some offensive questions about human rights in Iran and support for the Palestinians, who they claim are terrorists, and the plan to build weapons of mass destruction.
Today, several American [army] centers in Afghanistan were attacked, and a number of people were injured and killed. Israel destroyed more than 100 homes and shops of Palestinians today.
An earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale occurred in Mexico, causing dozens of deaths and many injuries and extensive damage.