How did Martyr Modarres confront Reza Pahlavi

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    How did Martyr Modarres confront Reza Pahlavi?

    File:A photo of Martyr Modarres.jpg
    A photo of Martyr Modarres

    Sayyed Hassan Modarres (1870–1937 CE), a Shi'a scholar and politician, was one of the most prominent opponents of Reza Shah during his rise to power. Modarres's opposition and confrontations with Reza Khan began during the coup d'état of Esfand 1299 SH (February 1921), in which Reza Khan played a central role. The confrontation peaked during Reza Khan’s efforts to declare a republic. Modarres viewed Reza Khan as a power-hungry, authoritarian figure opposed to constitutionalism and rule of law.

    With Reza Shah's consolidation of absolute power, Modarres was banned from political activity, later arrested and exiled. He spent nine years in exile and was ultimately assassinated on the orders of Reza Shah.

    The 1921 Coup to Reza Khan's Premiership

    Modarres was an active scholar in the Constitutional Movement and opposed the coup of 3 Esfand 1299 SH (February 1921) and its leaders, including Reza Khan and Sayyed Zia al-Din Tabatabaei. In parliament, Modarres repeatedly emphasized the British government's involvement in the coup.[1]

    The coup leaders arrested Modarres to prevent effective political opposition and exiled him to Qazvin by postal carriage. During his exile, Modarres continued his opposition, sending messages expressing his views against the coup leaders. His exile lasted until the fall of the government of Sayyed Zia al-Din Tabatabaei (June 1921).[2]

    During the Fourth Parliament (1921–1923), Modarres led the parliamentary majority and served as deputy speaker. At this time, Reza Khan became Minister of War and began expanding his power in various political and military areas. In a speech to parliament, Modarres resisted this power grab and threatened to impeach Reza Khan.[3]

    Beating of Modarres During Reza Khan's Premiership

    During the elections for the Fifth Parliament (1923), Reza Khan used unlawful force to become prime minister. He then tried to pave his way to absolute power by changing the monarchy to a republic. Reza Khan’s republicanism faced fierce resistance in parliament led by Modarres, who was physically assaulted by Reza Khan’s supporters during the opposition.[4] This attack led other representatives to join Modarres’s minority faction and oppose the republican plan. Their support effectively blocked Reza Khan's plan for a republic.[5]

    This confrontation led Modarres and his allies in parliament to formally request Reza Khan's impeachment on 7 Mordad 1304 SH (July 1925), citing domestic and foreign policy failures, violations of the constitution, and refusal to surrender embezzled properties. However, due to Reza Khan's threats and coercion, the impeachment failed.[6]

    Reza Shah’s Monarchy to Modarres's Martyrdom

    After the fall of the Qajar dynasty and the establishment of the Pahlavi regime, Reza Shah sought to assassinate Modarres, but his first attempt failed due to Modarres's vigilance.[7]

    Reza Shah waited for the end of the Sixth Parliament and the removal of Modarres's political immunity before arresting him.[8] After the Sixth Parliament ended, Modarres ran for the Seventh Parliament but received no votes due to blatant election rigging by Reza Khan. Modarres remarked sarcastically that at least one vote—his own—should have been counted.[9]

    After failing to enter parliament, Reza Shah asked Modarres to retire from politics. Modarres vehemently refused, stating that political involvement was his religious and moral duty in pursuit of freedom.[10] Some also cited Modarres’s support for the uprising of Aqa Nurollah Isfahani in December 1926 as another reason for Reza Shah’s harsh treatment and exile of Modarres.

    On the night of Monday, 16 Mehr 1307 SH (October 1928), Modarres and his sons were violently arrested. After being transferred to Mashhad, he was sent to Khwaf, a village predominantly inhabited by Sunnis, effectively cutting him off from the center. [11] Modarres spent seven years in Khwaf before being transferred to Kashmar. Finally, on 1 December 1937, Modarres was poisoned and then suffocated on Reza Shah’s orders by agents sent from Tehran. His grave in Kashmar remained unknown until Reza Shah’s fall, after which locals revealed its location.[12]

    References

    1. ↑ Torkaman, Mohammad, *Modarres in Five Parliamentary Sessions*, Tehran, Islamic Culture Publishing Office, 2004, vol. 1, pp. 191–192.
    2. ↑ Makki, Hossein, *Twenty-Year History of Iran*, Tehran: Translation and Publishing Bureau, 1980, vol. 1, pp. 239–241.
    3. ↑ Bahar, Mohammad Taqi, *A Brief History of Political Parties in Iran*, Tehran: Amir Kabir Publishing Institute, 2013, vol. 1, p. 233.
    4. ↑ Davani, Ali, *The Movement of Iranian Clergy*, n.p., Imam Reza Cultural Foundation, n.d., vol. 2, pp. 120–129.
    5. ↑ Makki, *Twenty-Year History of Iran*, vol. 2, pp. 482–483.
    6. ↑ Makki, *Twenty-Year History of Iran*, vol. 3, pp. 125–152.
    7. ↑ Davani, *The Movement of Iranian Clergy*, vol. 2, pp. 135–136.
    8. ↑ Makki, *Twenty-Year History of Iran*, vol. 4, p. 396.
    9. ↑ Makki, *Twenty-Year History of Iran*, vol. 5, pp. 38–40.
    10. ↑ Makki, *Twenty-Year History of Iran*, vol. 5, p. 40.
    11. ↑ For detailed information on the arrest and exile of Modarres, see: Makki, *Twenty-Year History of Iran*, vol. 5, pp. 41–46.
    12. ↑ Makki, *Twenty-Year History of Iran*, vol. 5, pp. 67–70; also: Davani, *The Movement of Iranian Clergy*, vol. 2, pp. 136–137.
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