51
Mohammed Tevfik Hemadani and Huseyin Danis (1870-
1943)
99
.
Constitutional Movement and Constitutional
Reform in Iran (1906)
Japanese-Russian War of 1904-1905 had negative
impact on Iranian economy. Caucasian trade stopped, prices
rose due to bad harvest season and a cholera epidemic broke
out in Northwestern regions. All these incidents and
impotent rule got the situation worse and the government
imposed more taxes on local merchants. First reactionary
incidents took place in August of 1905.
100
The ulema who
had close ties with local producers and merchants supported
the protests which continued to grow as a large fraction of
people including merchants, artisans, madrasah students and
under the guidance of the ulema such as Tabatabai,
Bihbehani and Fazlullah Nuri. The government tried to solve
the issue with the help of arbiters like in the Ottoman
Empire. However, protests reached its peak in December of
1905 after Tehran governor ordered punishment of sugar
merchants by foot whipping as they were accused of raising
sugar prices artificially. Tehran market was closed down and
people sought refuge in mosques under the leadership of the
ulema. Many ulema and people migrated to Abd al-Azim al-
Hasani, a center for Shiites in the southern part of Tehran
under the guidance of the ulema Tabatabai.
101
In January of
99
For his life and works, see “Mirza Hüseyin Daniş (Pedram)”, Türk
Ansiklopedisi, Vol: XVIII, Ankara, 1970, p. 417; İbnülemin Mahmut
Kemal (İnal), Son Asır Türk Şairleri, İstanbul, 1930, pp. 261- 264; John
Gurney, “A. G. Browne and The Iranian Community in Istanbul”, Les
Iraniens D’Istanbul , p. 154; Riyahi, op.cit.., s. 255; Kuran, p. 157 and
165 et al.
100
Abrahamian, op.cit.., s. 81; for the birth of Iranian constitutionalist
movement and declaration of constitutional reform period, see Metin,
op.cit., p.212-231.
101
Kirmani, op.cit., s. 273 vd.; Kesrevi, Tarih-i Meşrutiyet-e İran, pp. 58-
63. In Shiism, migration of a religious leader from one city to another has
negative connotations. This situation justifies rebellion against authority
and impunity of sacred spaces enabled many opponents to seek refuge in
those places (it is called bast). Foreign missions were also places of
shelter in the 19th century. Asylum seekers were free to stay until their
demands were met or they were pardoned. There were instances of people
who stayed in those places until the rest of their lives. For example, see a
telegram from Serdar Muhyi who took refuge in the Ottoman embassy in
1907-1909, Meclisi Mebusan Zabıt Cerideleri, Vol: II, Ankara, 1982, p.
288.
52
1906, the Shah accepted requests of the refugees who also
demanded opening of a ministry of justice (Dar-ul Adl)
102
The government never acted on their promise and opponents
such as Seyyid Cemaleddin İsfehani, Sheikh Mohammad
Vaiz and Şeyh-ül Reis Kacar who gave passionate
preachings loved by the people were arrested or exiled.
103
Incidents broke out outside Cuma Mosque, Tehran’s largest
prayer place in July of 1906 and a young Sayyid was killed
by soldiers during these incidents.
104
This caused protests to
spread and leaving the city, the ulema migrated to Qom, one
of the largest holy grounds with a big crowd. Public protests
then became widespread. Even women joined protests, for
the first time in the history of Iran.
105
Incidents spread to
other cities. There were attempts of seeking refuge in British
and Ottoman embassies besides sacred venues. Around a
hundred people took shelter in the Ottoman consulate in
Tabriz and embassy in Tehran.
106
The number of those who
took shelter in the British embassy was much higher: around
fourteen thousand people.
107
As incidents spread to other
102
Abrahamian, op.cit., p. 82; Janet Afary, The Iranian Constitutional
Revolution, 1906- 1911, New York: Columbia, 1996, p. 55; Roderic H.
Davison, Osmanlı İmparatorluğunda Reform (1856-1876), Ankara, 1997,
p. 108;
For Semseddin Bey’s intermediary role and demands who established
close ties with Muzaffareddin Shah and opponents, see Dawlatabadi,
op.cit., Vol: II, pp. 19- 24; Kesrevi lists eight demands, Tarih-i
Meşrutiyet-e İran, pp. 67- 68.
103
Mehdi Melekzâde, Tarih-i İnkılab-e Meşrutiyet-e İran, 3. Çap, Tahran,
1363, Vol: II, pp. 312- 345.
104
For the assassination of Seyyid Abdülmecid, see Nazım’ül İslam
Kirmani, Tarih-i Bidari-ye İraniyan, 2. Çap, Tahran, 1324, Vol: III, p. 404
et al.
105
For women activities during the constitutional period, see Afary,
op.cit., p. 177 et al.
106
It is claimed that more people took shelter in the British embassy than
the Ottoman embassy because (besides physical incapabilities of the
Ottoman embassy and its courtyard) by taking advantage of the conflicts
in Iran, the Ottoman army invaded (July 1907) some of the strategic
locations in the western Iran where Armenian gangs crossed easily and
took action with whom they were in dispute for some time. See Çetinsaya,
ibid., p. 17. Ottoman invasion caused emergence of national response and
intensified opponents’ disconent. Ademiyet, İdeoloji-ye Nehzat-e
Meşrutiyet-e İran, Tahran yty, Vol: II, pp.101- 106. For the dispute with
Ottoman embassy officials, see Dawlatabadi, op.cit.., Vol: II, pp. 57- 60.
For Armenian gangs, see Kirmani, op.cit.., pp. 349- 351.
107
Statistics indicate around 14 thousand with a few exceptions: Homa
Katouzian, indicates 12 thousand, The State and Society in Iran,
London&New York, 2000, p. 35; Nikki R. Keddie, indicates from 12
thousand to 14 thousand, Roots of Revolution: An Interpretive History of
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