"Akbar Ganji Denies Ali Larijani's Quote Regarding Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani"

Ganji, in part of a note published on "Gooia," wrote: "Hashemi Rafsanjani noted in his memoirs dated January 22, 2001: 'Ali Larijani, [the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting], came and said that Mr. [Akbar] Ganji had contacted the office of Mr. [Mohammad] Khatami, [the President] from prison, stating that he was rotting in prison and if no assistance was provided, he would reveal information regarding him.'"

In reference to this accusation, I would like to remind you of a few points:

First, by order of "Ali Zadeh," the head of the Tehran Judiciary, I was prohibited from accessing the telephone in prison, which is commonly referred to as being banned from phone use.

Second, the phone calls of political prisoners and the calls to Khatami's office were monitored. If this accusation were true, it would have been published multiple times in the media since 1999.

Third, why were "Mohammad Khatami," "Abtahi," and all reformists unaware of this threatening call?

Fourth, "Mohammad Sarafraz," the head of IRIB (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting), stated in a video interview that as soon as "Mohammad Khatami" was elected and the reformists began their work, a committee led by "Mojtaba Khamenei" was formed with the participation of "Hossein Taeb," Sarafraz, and several others to engage in subversive activities against Khatami (refer to minutes 15 to 19 of the film "What Suppression Organizations Did Khamenei Use to Stifle Protests in 1999, 2009, 2017, 2019, and 2022?"). "Ali Larijani" was also against Khatami and reformists at that time, as reflected in Hashemi's memoirs. It is likely that this accusation was fabricated either by that committee or by "Ali Larijani" himself.

Fifth, "Ayatollah Khamenei," the military, and other government institutions were so opposed (if not enemies) to Khatami that "Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati" stated on July 27, 2010, in Jamkaran Mosque: "I received a document that the Americans gave one billion dollars through Saudi individuals, who are now American agents in the region, to the leaders of the sedition. These Saudis, who spoke on behalf of America, said that if you could eliminate the regime, we would provide an additional 50 billion dollars." On August 2, 2010, Khatami denied this accusation, stating: "Why is this issue not pursued so that if it is true, clarity is achieved, and if it is false, those who fabricate lies, which are a clear example of disturbing public opinion, are held accountable?" If there were any negative "intelligence" against Khatami, it would have been disclosed thousands of times by now. Therefore, there was no need for the large lies and accusations from "Ahmad Jannati," "Hosseini Shariatmadari," and others against Khatami.

Sixth, regrettably, "Ali Larijani" has confused "Mohammad Khatami" with "Javad Larijani," who is associated with economic corruption (land grabbing) and political corruption (negotiating with "Nick Brown," the director of the British Foreign Office, and stating that if "Nategh Nouri" wins the 1997 presidential election, British interests in Iran will be secured, rather than the radical choice of "Mohammad Khatami"), as well as being a sycophant of "Mahmoud Ahmadinejad" and "Ebrahim Raisi." Is it possible that "Ali Larijani" confused Khatami with his brother "Fazel Larijani," who was caught in a corruption deal while negotiating with "Saeed Mortazavi," which was shown by "Mahmoud Ahmadinejad" in the parliament on February 4, 2012?

I have no information against Khatami to threaten him. When I was on a prolonged hunger strike and Khatami was speaking in a 12,000-seat stadium while the attendees were shouting: "Ganji, Ganji"; Khatami replied: "I am not doing anything for this guy" (paraphrased). That same night, the head of the interrogation team showed that to me in Milad Hospital to provoke me against Khatami. However, politics should not be turned into a platform for personal revenge, and, more importantly, for lying and slandering.

Seventh, "Ali Larijani" knows that I was imprisoned twice in the Islamic Republic, and the records of both imprisonments show whether I broke down and cried in prison (as reported by "Mohseni Ejei" to "Hashemi Rafsanjani") or felt rotting and thus threatened "Mohammad Khatami." Perhaps "Ali Larijani" has forgotten about the publication of the two volumes of "Republican Manifesto" and "Archipelagos of Prison-like" during my imprisonment. "Saeed Mortazavi" sent an operational team to the publisher's office ("Tarh No") and bookstores, collecting and destroying all copies of the "Archipelagos of Prison-like" book.