Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani – April 13, 2003

The representatives of religious minorities in the parliament and their heads, [Mr. Morris Motamed, Representative of Kilimian, Levon Davidian, Representative of Armenians of Tehran and the North, Jerzhik Abramian, Representative of Armenians of Isfahan and the South, Khosro Dabstani, Representative of Zoroastrians and Yonatan Batkelia, Representative of Assyrian and Chaldean Christians] came.  They appealed for the approval of the equality of the dowry of Muslims and Dhammah, which was approved by the Majlis and opposed by the Guardian Council, as well as the issue of the inheritance of minorities in case one of the heirs becomes a Muslim.  They appreciated my statements about the relations with America and said that they can help the issues through their lobbies.

Mr. Taha Abdakhodaei came.   Recently, he has become the head of Iran Tourism Organization.  He consulted for the development of tourism and gave a report on the situation of olive cultivation in Spain, which is mainly in the hands of Muslims and they are willing to cooperate with Iran.  Previously, he was Iran's representative in Spain.  He insisted that for the future, he does not know anyone other than me to save the country from the current situation;  I said there are people. 

Mr. [Mohammed] Rezazadeh and his son Ali came who are the custodians of the Qur'an and Nahj al-Balagheh. They gave a report about the foreign competition trips and its impact, and the centers they have set up to promote the Qur'an.  I told Mohsen, [CEO of the Revolutionary Education Publishing Office], to establish a center for them in Rafsanjan at the expense of the Document Center, Rafsanjan Library and Museum.  I helped  Children who memorize the Quran are attractive.
In the evening, the managers and officials of Pakdasht, accompanied by [Mr. Hassan Zoumi], Imam Juma and [Mr. Mohammad Qomi], city representative and Mr. [Hossein] Muzafar, [member of the Expediency Council] came.  They thanked me for becoming a city and starting the construction of Mamlu Dam and asked me to go there for the ceremony of the martyrs.

In Iraq, looting and chaos continue;  Except in the small towns controlled by the Shiites.  In Najaf, Ayatollah [Syed Ali] Sistani has been threatened.  They say, by the supporters of [Moqtadi] Sadr, which he denied.  American forces have entered the suburbs of Tikrit;  Where is the last point of Baathist resistance.  The conflict between the Kurds and the hypocrites has intensified.  The hypocrites have announced that 18 people were killed and 40 injured yesterday, and 10 people were killed and 40 injured today.  Of course, they say that the attacks are from Iranian forces.  In Baghdad, today, a crowd demonstrated against the United States in front of the Palestine Hotel, [where journalists are stationed], and the United States continues to threaten Syria.