Seven Anti-Iranian Actions of Reza Khan During the Pahlavi Era

There are people among us who may not have experienced the reign of the strongman Reza Khan but have heard stories of it from their grandparents. While these experiences and memories may not yield any benefit, some intellectuals in our society attempt to convince those who did not experience that time that the transformation of Reza Khan into Reza Shah and the beginning of the Pahlavi era represented a golden age and advancement for Iran. It is likely that no one has been closer to Mohammad Reza, the son of Reza Khan, than others in the monarchy. In the memoirs of Hossein Khatibi, the head of the Red Crescent Society, concerning Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, it is written: "Recently, if someone spoke of his father [Reza Shah] and his competence, it was not well received." The American minister in Tehran reported after his first meeting with Reza Khan: "I met a man who was just a few steps away from savagery."

Reza Khan's Ancestry

Mrs. Taj al-Muluk, the mother of Mohammad Reza, describes the origin of her husband in her memoirs: "My late father was a high-ranking officer of the Cossack Division... At that time, Iran did not have a regular army, and the Tsar of Russia had sent a regiment of Cossacks to Iran at the request of the Qajar Shah. Most of those serving in this regiment were subjects from the Caucasus, but they were commanded by Russian officers. The Cossack forces were organized by the English in Iran on the brink of the collapse of the Tsarist regime in Russia, and they were sent back to their country to prevent the victory of the Bolshevik revolution." Taj al-Muluk continues: "My father went with the Cossacks and the English and fought for several months in various fronts, returning exhausted to Iran. Upon his return, he reported that a soldier had saved his life from certain death at the front. This heroic soldier was none other than Reza Shah, my future husband. My father had taken a liking to this soldier during his stay at the front while fighting the Russian revolutionaries (around Baku). Although Reza was born and raised in Iran, he also came from a family of émigrés from Baku."

Below, we will examine some examples of actions that Reza Khan undertook for the Iranian nation during his reign:

1. Reza Khan and the Establishment of Tehran University

It seems that some people enjoy sitting down and distorting any text they encounter to fit their own criteria. The establishment of Tehran University is one of those significant milestones that some consider the result of Reza Khan's compassion for the nation, whereas the reality is described in the book "The Master of Love": "I had heard of Reza Shah with his boots, cape, and staff; officials generally avoided meeting him and were terrified. However, based on the experiences of Hikmat, he seemed to be the only solution. I will never forget that I accepted the opportunity to meet the Shah, despite all concerns, simply to prevent us from falling further behind the Europeans and to establish a university at all costs. Hikmat also made great efforts to arrange an appointment, and I met with the Shah. I spoke with him for over half an hour about the necessity and principles of establishing a university. He listened attentively. This opportunity was very valuable for me. When I finished my remarks, the Shah said: 'Everything you've explained is correct, but tell me, what use is this university?'" Following that, Dr. Hekmat tried to convince the Shah of the necessity of establishing the university by providing examples of the Kahrizak Sugar Factory and the national railway, which were operated by German engineers at great expense to the nation. In these memories, there is no mention of a friendly meeting or the Shah stating that something should be done to prevent him from being dependent on foreigners.

2. Reza Khan and Dependency on the British

Abdul Hossein Masoud Ansari, a knowledgeable statesman of the Pahlavi era, acknowledged: "The British were always opposed to any reforms in Iran and did not want Iranians to progress and develop to become like advanced countries; rather, they sought to keep Iran in a state of ruin." According to the memoirs of Abdul Hossein Masoud Ansari, the British "did not want industries to arise in Iran, nor for us to gain strength and power. They did not desire a disciplined and capable military in our country. They stoked the fires of insecurity and disorder in our nation, so that we would need to borrow from them more to finance military expeditions." This is while the very foundation of Reza Khan's rule was facilitated by the British. John Foran, in his book "The Fragile Resistance," discusses the extent of Britain's role in the coup of March 3rd: "Without going to extremes, Britain played a significant role in the coup. The existing evidence indicates that the British Foreign Office had little involvement in the coup, but prominent military officials and personnel from the British embassy in Iran played a decisive role in its preparation. Reza Khan reached the command of the Cossack Brigade in the winter of 1920 with the support of Ironside. In his memoirs, Ironside writes: 'A military dictator can solve Iran's problems, allowing us to withdraw our troops from Iran without any trouble.'"

3. Reza Khan and Religious Ceremonies

One might conclude from seeing and hearing situations like, "Reza Shah held a 'Tekiyeh' during his time as Minister of War on Ashura in the Cossack Barracks, standing at the entrance and distributing ‘Taq-Shal’ to the mourning processions, sometimes walking barefoot in front of the procession and scattering straw on his head while on the night of the 11th of Muharram, holding a meal in remembrance and going to mosques and Tekiyehs," that there was no king like Reza Khan in religiosity. However, the truth is that after ascending to the throne, Reza Khan changed his course. Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Akbar Qureshi also says in this regard: "The wicked Reza Khan banned the religious rituals and national customs of the Iranian people. Following the issuance of this decree, the open mourning for Imam Hossein was forcefully suppressed through threats, imprisonment, and dishonor. People were forced to hold their mourning ceremonies quietly and privately in their homes... I remember that after the prohibition of mourning during Muharram and Ashura, we would go to one of the surrounding villages of Bonab called 'Zavarak' to hold mourning ceremonies, perform 'Shabih-Kardani,' and recite elegies. Policemen and government agents would also come there to prevent mourning for Imam Hossein. However, the people would gather some money, pay it to them, and get rid of them, allowing them to mourn peacefully." This is just one example of Reza Khan's religious conduct throughout the Pahlavi era.

4. Reza Khan and Freedom or Oppression

5. Reza Khan and the Seizure of Northern Lands

At that time, Reza Shah's agents also exerted a lot of pressure on the Turkmen. While the brick kilns were still hot, they sent them inside the kilns to take the bricks out; however, these poor people burned their hands on the hot bricks while crying out in pain. If someone at an auction bid higher than Reza Shah, he would be erased from existence. In this way, they arranged auctions and, by deception, seized properties across the north. Only in Aliabad Katul, in

some places, the land was distributed among officers, while the remaining lands remained with Reza Khan. While I do not wish to delve into the story of land reform during the Pahlavi era, I will mention one thing that took place in the oil-rich regions of Khuzestan. Based on reports, Reza Khan seized many lands owned by tribal leaders, such as the Bakhtiari tribe, and during his time, these lands were either seized or forcibly purchased.

6. Reza Khan and Women's Rights

There are people who think that Reza Shah’s policies regarding women’s rights and the progress of women, education, and employment were fundamentally beneficial for women. However, it is necessary to note that during Reza Shah's reign, women were subjected to numerous restrictions. They were treated as subordinates and were denied the right to education, knowledge, and cultural and social participation. In his memoirs, a notable doctor recounts: "Women were prohibited from attending public places; during Reza Shah’s rule, women’s clothes were also restricted. Women had to wear hats and veils. Many doctors did not want their female patients to come to their clinics because they faced difficulty treating them. They only dealt with male patients, and many doctors only operated on men." After the coup of March 3rd, 1920, women faced even stricter laws. Many who protested against Reza Shah's restrictions were arrested and imprisoned, while others faced severe repercussions.

7. Reza Khan's Legacy of Cultural Assimilation

The establishment of a centralized regime required the elimination of local traditions and cultures. During Reza Shah's rule, many cultural practices were banned, including the use of local languages in schools and public spaces. Traditional clothing styles were also replaced by Western-style attire. This forced cultural assimilation led to widespread discontent and resentment among various ethnic groups. In his memoirs, prominent Iranian writer Sadegh Hedayat described the cultural atmosphere of the time: "Iranians were forced to wear European-style clothes while their own culture was ridiculed. The very essence of our identity was attacked."

In conclusion, while some may argue that Reza Khan’s reign marked a period of modernization and development for Iran, it is essential to recognize the oppressive and anti-Iranian measures he implemented during his time in power. The narrative surrounding him must include a comprehensive examination of the actions that ultimately alienated many segments of Iranian society and left a complex and often painful legacy that resonates to it.