Goharshad Mosque Massacre
What was the Goharshad Mosque massacre?
The Goharshad Mosque massacre occurred on 12 July 1935 (21 Tir 1314 SH) when the military forces of Reza Shah violently suppressed a popular uprising. This event is seen as a heroic resistance in defense of Islamic values and in protest against the authoritarian policies of Reza Shah, ending in a brutal massacre.
At the time, the government of Reza Shah issued a directive mandating Iranian men to abandon the Pahlavi hat (a brimless cap) and instead wear a full-brimmed Western-style hat known as a chapeau. This order sparked widespread protests, particularly in the city of Mashhad, where people gathered at venues such as the Goharshad Mosque. The gatherings grew daily, and the city fell into unrest, with speakers delivering fiery speeches. To quell the unrest, Reza Shah's regime attempted to disperse the crowds. After several failed attempts, on 21 Tir 1314 SH, the government launched a massacre of the protestors.
The uprising against Reza Shah's authoritarian cultural policies
On 21 Tir 1314 SH (12 July 1935), the people of Mashhad rose in protest against the authoritarian cultural mandates imposed by Prime Minister Mohammad Ali Foroughi—notably the imposition of uniform dress codes. In June 1935, the Foroughi government, influenced by Reza Shah’s 1934 visit to Turkey, issued a decree requiring Iranians to replace the Pahlavi hat with the Western-style chapeau.[1][2]
The religious scholars of Mashhad held secret meetings and decided to oppose these policies. In one such meeting, it was proposed that Ayatollah Haj Agha Hossein Qomi should go to Tehran to negotiate directly with Reza Shah. Upon his arrival in Tehran, he was arrested and placed in solitary confinement. Other clerics continued to raise awareness among the public. The Goharshad Mosque became the focal point of these gatherings, which grew daily and caused significant disruption to the city.[3][4]
Simultaneously, in Mashhad, the government arrested clerics such as Sheikh Gholamreza Tabasi and Sheikh Neyshabouri. On Friday, 11 July 1935, military forces opened fire on the protestors but were pushed back. The following day, a large protest against the mandatory chapeau hat drew many to the mosque. Military commanders in Mashhad, acting under Reza Shah’s direct orders, deployed heavily armed troops and even artillery. During this gathering, Sheikh Mohammad-Taqi Behloul delivered a fiery speech urging resistance. The government’s response was a massacre. Around noon, military forces stormed the mosque and opened fire on the unarmed civilians.[5][6]
Aftermath
After the massacre, Mohammad-Taqi Behloul fled to Afghanistan to avoid arrest. That same year, Ayatollah Seyyed Hossein Qomi was exiled to Iraq. The Goharshad uprising is considered a turning point of religious resistance against Reza Shah’s authoritarianism. Following the Islamic Revolution of 1979, this day was designated as Hijab and Chastity Day in Iran.[7]
At the time of the incident, the custodian of Astan Quds Razavi was Mohammad Vali Asadi, who maintained strong ties with local clerics. He believed that due to Mashhad’s religious nature, enforcement of the hat law would provoke unrest. Reza Shah, furious over the uprising, demanded investigations. The police chief of Mashhad was dismissed, and a report blamed Asadi for inciting the revolt. He was tried in a military court and sentenced to death. Prime Minister Foroughi, whose daughters were married into Asadi’s family, tried to intervene, but Reza Shah was so enraged that he dismissed Foroughi and forced him into retirement. It was later revealed that Reza Shah had found a letter from Foroughi to Asadi quoting Rumi: “In the claws of a bloodthirsty lion, what choice is there but surrender and submission?” Thus, the chapeau hat decree became tragically associated with the massacre at a sacred mosque.[8]
Number of casualties
According to historical sources, about 2,000 people were killed or wounded in this national tragedy.[9] Mohammad Ali Shoushtari, citing eyewitnesses, recorded the number of dead as 1,670. Ahmad Bahar mentioned 1,750 deaths in the Bahar newspaper in 1942, and Alireza Bayegan, another witness, confirmed the figure of 1,670.[10]
References
- ↑ "Imam Khomeini's painful memory of the Goharshad massacre". Imam Khomeini Portal. 12 July 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help) - ↑ "Goharshad incident: Reza Khan's clash with religious beliefs". IRNA. 19 July 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help) - ↑ "Imam Khomeini's painful memory of the Goharshad massacre". Imam Khomeini Portal. 12 July 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help) - ↑ "Goharshad Mosque incident". Tabnak. 24 October 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help) - ↑ "Goharshad Uprising: The most painful tragedy of modern Iranian history". ISNA. 12 July 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help) - ↑ "Imam Khomeini's painful memory of the Goharshad massacre". Imam Khomeini Portal. 12 July 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help) - ↑ "Goharshad incident: Reza Khan's clash with religious beliefs". IRNA. 19 July 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help) - ↑ "The blood-stained hat: Reza Shah's foolish insistence on enforcing the chapeau". Hamshahri Online. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help) - ↑ "Imam Khomeini's painful memory of the Goharshad massacre". Imam Khomeini Portal. 12 July 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help) - ↑ "Goharshad Mosque incident". Tabnak. 24 October 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help)