1908 bombardment of the Majlis (Iran)
1908 bombardment of the Majlis by Muhammad Ali Shah Qajar was one of the important events of the Constitutional Revolution era in Iran. By limiting the Shah's powers, the National Assembly (Majlis) passed laws that faced his severe opposition. Muhammad Ali Shah, who enjoyed the support of Russia and Britain, bombarded the Majlis and the Sipahsalar Mosque on 23 June 1908 through Liakhov, the Russian commander of the Tehran Cossack Brigade, resulting in the death of a number of representatives. With this action, the one-year period of Minor Tyranny began, and some of the leaders of the Constitutional Revolution such as Sayyid 'Abd Allah Bihbahani and Sayyid Muhammad Tabataba'i were imprisoned, while others were exiled. According to reports, about 200 people were killed and 500 were wounded in this attack.
In addition to the limitation of the Shah's power by the Majlis laws, the publication of harsh content in newspapers and the claim of a bombing attempt on the Shah's carriage are also considered reasons for this event. This action led to widespread popular protests, and eventually, the Constitutionalists succeeded in capturing Tehran. Muhammad Ali Shah took refuge in the Russian Embassy and was deposed from the throne. After him, Ahmad Shah ascended the throne, and Muhammad Ali Shah fled to Russia. Prior to these events, the scholars of Najaf, including Akhund Khurasani and Abd Sllah Mazandarani, had declared any cooperation with the opponents of Constitutionalism as haram and equivalent to war against Imam al-Mahdi (a).
Status and Significance
The bombardment of the National Assembly by Muhammad Ali Shah Qajar was one of the most important events of the Constitutional era and had a significant impact on the process of Iranian Constitutionalism.[1] The Shah, who had been opposed to the Constitutionalists since he was the crown prince,[2] strove to destroy the National Assembly after ascending to the throne.[3] With his powers limited by the laws of the Majlis,[4] martial law was declared in Tehran by his order. He ordered Liakhov (the Russian commander of the Cossacks)[5] to besiege the Majlis and the Sipahsalar Mosque.[6] On 23 June 1908, Liakhov bombarded the National Consultative Assembly, the Sipahsalar Mosque,[7] and the buildings of some associations surrounding the Majlis, such as the Azerbaijan Assembly, the Popular Association of Tabriz, and the Muzaffari Assembly,[8] and destroyed them.[9] After the destruction of these buildings, their valuable objects were looted.[10]
At the time of the bombardment of the Majlis, Sayyid 'Abd Allah Bihbahani, Sayyid Muhammad Tabataba'i, and some representatives were inside the Majlis.[11] In this incident, a number of Majlis representatives were killed.[12] According to the report of the British Embassy, 200 people were killed[13] and 500 were wounded in this event, and the Majlis was dissolved.[14]
A few days before the bombardment of the Majlis, the leaders of the Constitutional Revolution in Tehran sent telegraphs to the scholars supporting Constitutionalism in Najaf, such as Akhund Khurasani, Husayn Khalili Tihrani, and Abd Allah Mazandarani, requesting help. The scholars issued a fatwa stating that cooperation with the opponents of Constitutionalism is not permissible and is considered equivalent to war against Imam al-Mahdi (a).[15]
Backgrounds and Causes
Based on the reports of Constitutional documents, events such as the publication of harsh content against the Shah in pro-Constitutional newspapers such as Musawat and Sur-i Israfil,[16] and the bombing of Muhammad Ali Shah's carriage on 28 February 1908,[17] paved the way for the bombardment of the Majlis.[18] According to Nadhim al-Islam Kirmani (d. 1918), the author of Tarikh-i bidari-yi Iraniyan, it has been claimed that the bombing of the Shah's carriage was carried out by the Shah himself in order to accuse the representatives of the National Assembly.[19]
It is said that the Russians demanded the destruction of the Majlis.[20] According to the documents of the British Foreign Office, Muhammad Ali Shah enjoyed the joint support of Russia and Britain.[21]
Minor Tyranny
With the bombardment of the Majlis, the one-year period of Minor Tyranny began, which lasted until the deposition of Muhammad Ali Shah from the throne.[22] After the destruction and dissolution of the Majlis, some Constitutional leaders such as Behbahani and Tabataba'i were imprisoned in the Bagh-i Shah (the king's garden),[23] and a number of others were exiled,[24] including Sayyid 'Abd Allah Bihbahani who was exiled to the al-'Atabat al-'Aliyat.[25] Mirza Nasr Allah Malik al-Mutakallimin, the famous Constitutional orator, was executed.[26] Also, the press and newspapers were closed,[27] and Mirza Jahangir Khan Sur Israfil, the famous journalist, was hanged.[28]
The bombardment of the Majlis caused the awakening of the people and the strengthening of the Constitutionalists and freedom fighters.[29] People in various cities such as Tabriz,[30] Rasht, and Isfahan rose up against Muhammad Ali Shah.[31] These uprisings forced Muhammad Ali Shah to issue the decree restoring Constitutionalism on 5 May 1909.[32]
The Constitutionalists of Azerbaijan, Gilan, and Isfahan captured Tehran on 10 July 1909.[33] Muhammad Ali Shah took refuge in the Russian Embassy.[34] The representatives of the Majlis deposed him from the throne. After the deposition of Muhammad Ali Shah, Ahmad Shah Qajar (his 12-year-old son) ascended the throne.[35] One year after the destruction of the Majlis, Muhammad Ali Shah fled to Russia on 9 September 1909, and the era of Minor Tyranny came to an end.[36]
Notes
- ↑ Ajodani, Mashruta-yi Irani, p. 21.
- ↑ Kasravi, Tarikh-i Mashruta-yi Iran, p. 577.
- ↑ Malik-zada, Tarikh-i inqilab-i mashrutiyat-i Iran, p. 563; Ajodani, Mashruta-yi Irani, p. 21.
- ↑ Brown, Inqilab-i Iran, p. 132.
- ↑ Abrahamian, Tarikh-i Iran-i modern, p. 101; Brown, Inqilab-i Iran, p. 197.
- ↑ Brown, Inqilab-i Iran, p. 204.
- ↑ Nazim al-Islam Kirmani, Tarikh-i bidari-yi Iraniyan, vol. 1, p. 200.
- ↑ Dawlatabadi, Hayat-i Yahya, vol. 2, p. 330.
- ↑ Brown, Inqilab-i Iran, p. 206.
- ↑ Dawlatabadi, Hayat-i Yahya, vol. 2, p. 330.
- ↑ Kasravi, Tarikh-i Mashruta-yi Iran, p. 637; Brown, Inqilab-i Iran, p. 204.
- ↑ Majara-yi farar-i awwalin ra'is-i Majlis, Website of the Institute for Political Studies and Research.
- ↑ Abrahamian, Tarikh-i Iran-i modern, p. 101.
- ↑ Sukhan-i nukhust, Website of the Institute for Political Studies and Research.
- ↑ Kasravi, Tarikh-i Mashruta-yi Iran, pp. 614-615.
- ↑ Kasravi, Tarikh-i Mashruta-yi Iran, pp. 578, 593.
- ↑ Nazim al-Islam Kirmani, Tarikh-i bidari-yi Iraniyan, vol. 1, p. 199; Brown, Inqilab-i Iran, p. 189.
- ↑ Kasravi, Tarikh-i Mashruta-yi Iran, pp. 578, 593.
- ↑ Nazim al-Islam Kirmani, Tarikh-i bidari-yi Iraniyan, vol. 1, p. 199; Brown, Inqilab-i Iran, p. 190.
- ↑ Malik-zada, Tarikh-i inqilab-i mashrutiyat-i Iran, p. 571; Kasravi, Tarikh-i Mashruta-yi Iran, p. 578.
- ↑ Himayat-i Rusiya wa Inglis az Muhammad Ali Shah dar astana-yi be-tup-bastan-i Majlis, Website of the Institute for Political Studies and Research.
- ↑ Musavi-zada, Istibdad-i Saghir, Website of the Center for the Great Islamic Encyclopedia.
- ↑ Kasravi, Tarikh-i Mashruta-yi Iran, p. 651; Nazim al-Islam Kirmani, Tarikh-i bidari-yi Iraniyan, vol. 1, p. 200.
- ↑ Hizar, Danishmandan wa mashahir-i haram-i Hazrat-i Abd al-Azim Hasani (a), vol. 1, p. 268.
- ↑ Dawlatabadi, Hayat-i Yahya, vol. 2, p. 334.
- ↑ Karimi, Inqilab-i Mashruta dar buta-yi naqd, p. 77.
- ↑ Arif Qazvini, Divan-i Arif Qazvini, p. 15.
- ↑ Karimi, Inqilab-i Mashruta dar buta-yi naqd, p. 77.
- ↑ Hasanvand, Sattarkhan; Algu-yi muqawimat dar barabar-i istibdad wa isti'mar, Website of the Islamic Revolution Documents Center.
- ↑ Karimi, Inqilab-i Mashruta dar buta-yi naqd, p. 79.
- ↑ Karimi, Inqilab-i Mashruta dar buta-yi naqd, p. 80.
- ↑ Karimi, Inqilab-i Mashruta dar buta-yi naqd, p. 81.
- ↑ Karimi, Inqilab-i Mashruta dar buta-yi naqd, p. 82.
- ↑ Ajodani, Mashruta-yi Irani, p. 383.
- ↑ Abrahamian, Tarikh-i Iran-i modern, p. 104.
- ↑ Nazim al-Islam Kirmani, Tarikh-i bidari-yi Iraniyan, vol. 1, p. 200; Himayat-i Rusiya wa Inglis az Muhammad Ali Shah dar astana-yi be-tup-bastan-i Majlis, Website of the Institute for Political Studies and Research.
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