1.
Islamic Consultative Assembly
–
The Islamic Consultative Assembly, also called the Iranian Parliament, the Iranian Majlis, is the national legislative body of Iran. The Parliament currently has 290 representatives, changed from the previous 272 seats since the 18 February 2000 election, the most recent election took place on 26 February 2016 and the new parliament was opened on 28 May 2016. Before the Islamic Revolution, Majlis was also the name of the house of the Iranian Legislature from 1906 to 1979. It was created by the Iran Constitution of 1906 and first convened on 7 October 1906, women were not allowed to vote or be elected to the Parliament until 1963, as part of reforms under the Shahs White Revolution. The twenty-first National Consultative Assembly, which included female representatives, opened on 6 October 1963, the last session of the Pre-Revolution Parliament was held on 7 February 1979. After the Iranian Revolution of 1979, the Senate of Iran was abolished and was replaced by the Guardian Council thus the Iranian legislature remained bicameral. In the 1989 revision of the constitution, the National Consultative Assembly became the Islamic Consultative Assembly, the Parliament of Iran has had six chairmen since the Iranian Revolution. Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was the first chairman, from 1980 to 1989, then came Mehdi Karroubi, Ali Akbar Nategh-Nouri, Mehdi Karroubi, Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel and Ali Larijani since 2008. The Islamic Consultative Assembly can legislate laws on all issues within the limits of the Constitution, the Assembly cannot, for instance, enact laws contrary to the canons and principles of the official religion of the country or to the Constitution. Government bills are presented to the Islamic Consultative Assembly after receiving the approval of the Council of Ministers, the Islamic Consultative Assembly has the right to investigate and examine all the affairs of the country. International treaties, protocols, contracts, and agreements must be approved by the Islamic Consultative Assembly, receiving and issuing national or international loans or grants by the government must be ratified by the Islamic Consultative Assembly. The President must obtain, for the Council of Ministers, after being formed and before all other business, all legislation passed by the Islamic Consultative Assembly must be sent to the Guardian Council. The Guardian Council must review it within a maximum of ten days from its receipt with a view to ensuring its compatibility with the criteria of Islam, if it finds the legislation incompatible, it will return it to the Assembly for review. Otherwise the legislation will be deemed enforceable, currently, there are 290 members of Parliament, fourteen of whom represent non-Muslim religious minorities, and are popularly elected for four-year terms. About 8% of the Parliament are women, while the average is 13%. The Parliament can force the dismissal of cabinet ministers through no-confidence votes, although the executive proposes most new laws, individual deputies of the Parliament also may introduce legislation. Deputies also may propose amendments to bills being debated, the Parliament also drafts legislation, ratifies international treaties, and approves the national budget. All Peoples House of Iran candidates and all legislation from the assembly must be approved by the Guardian Council, candidates must pledge in writing that they are committed, in theory and in practice, to the Iranian constitution
2.
Tehran
–
Tehran is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. It is ranked 29th in the world by the population of its metropolitan area, in the Classical era, part of the present-day city of Tehran was occupied by a Median city that in the Avesta occurs as Rhaga. It was destroyed by the Mongols in the early 13th century, the capital has been moved several times throughout the history, and Tehran is the 32nd national capital of Iran. The city was the seat of the Qajars and Pahlavis, the two last imperial dynasties of Iran. It is home to historical collections, such as the royal complexes of Golestan, Sadabad. Large scale demolition and rebuilding began in the 1920s, and Tehran has been a destination for the migrations from all over Iran since the 20th century. Tabiat Bridge, which was completed in 2014, is considered the third symbol of the city. There have been plans to relocate Irans capital from Tehran to another area, due mainly to air pollution, to date, no definitive plans have been approved. A2016 survey of 230 cities by consultant Mercer ranked Tehran 203rd for quality of living, according to the Global Destinations Cities Index in 2016, Tehran is among the top ten fastest growing destinations. The origin of the name Tehran is uncertain, the settlement of Tehran dates back over 7,000 years. The present-day city of Tehran was a suburb of an important Median city that was known as Rhaga in Old Persian, in the Avestas Videvdat, Rhaga is mentioned as the twelfth sacred place created by the Ohrmazd. In Old Persian inscriptions, Rhaga appears as a province and it was a major area for the Iranian tribes of Medes and Achaemenids. From Rhaga, Darius the Great sent reinforcements to his father Hystaspes, in some Middle Persian texts, Rhaga is given as the birthplace of Zoroaster, although modern historians generally place the birth of Zoroaster in Khorasan. Derived into Modern Persian as Rey, it now as a city located towards the southern end of the modern-day city of Tehran. Mount Damavand, the highest peak of Iran, which is located near Tehran, is an important location in Ferdowsis Shahname, the long Iranian epic poem that is based on the ancient epics of Iran. It appears in the epics as the birthplace of Manuchehr, the residence of Keyumars, the place where Freydun binds the dragon fiend Aži Dahāka, during the Sassanid era, in 641, Yazdgerd III issued his last appeal to the nation from Rey, before fleeing to Khorasan. Rey was dominated by the Parthian Mihran family, and Siyavakhsh—the son of Mihran the son of Bahram Chobin—who resisted the Muslim Invasion, because of this resistance, when the Arabs captured Rey, they ordered the town to be destroyed and ordered Farrukhzad to rebuild the town anew. In the 9th century, Tehran was a well known village, but less known than the city of Rey, the medieval writer Najm od Din Razi declared the population of Rey about 500,000 before the Mongol Invasion
3.
Persian Constitutional Revolution
–
The Persian Constitutional Revolution or Iranian Constitutional Revolution, also known as the Constitutional Revolution of Iran, took place between 1905 and 1911. The revolution led to the establishment of a parliament in Persia during the Qajar Dynasty, the Revolution opened the way for cataclysmic change in Persia, heralding the modern era. It saw a period of unprecedented debate in a burgeoning press, the revolution created new opportunities and opened up seemingly boundless possibilities for Persia’s future. Many different groups fought to shape the course of the Revolution, the monarch Mozaffar ad-Din Shah signed the constitution in 1906, but he died shortly after and was replaced by Mohammad Ali Shah. The latter abolished the constitution and bombarded the parliament with Russian and this led to another pro-constitutional movement. The constitutionalist forces marched to Tehran, forced Muhammad Ali Shahs abdication in favor of his young son Ahmad Shah Qajar and the re-established the constitution in 1909. In 1921 Persian Coup refers to major events in Iran in 1921. On December 12,1925, Irans parliament amended Irans constitution of 1906–1907 to replace the Qajar dynasty with the Pahlavi dynasty as the sovereigns of Iran. The movement did not end with the Revolution being put down in 1911 by the Russians, with the first provision signed by Muzzafir al-Din just days before his death, Iran saw legislative reform vital to their goal of independence from British and Russian imperialism. The three main groups of the coalition seeking a constitution were the merchants, ulama. These groups shared the goal of ending corruption and stopping the dominance of foreign powers. Revolutionaries argued that role of the shah was once again being used to keep the Shah, Qajar, and they argued that whilst Irans oil industry was sold to the British, tax advantages on import/export and manufactured textiles destroyed Irans economy formerly supported by bazaar merchants. Muzzafir al-Din accumulated a fortune in foreign debt while selling off assets to repay the interest and this rift founded Irans constitutional revolt. The fundamental law gave the legislature a final approval over all loans, concession. While Iran did gain a constitution, the goal of Iranian independence was not achieved by the revolts, weakness and extravagance continued during the brief reign of Mozaffar ad-Din Shah. He often relied on his chancellor to manage his decentralized state and his dire financial situation caused him to sign many concessions to foreign powers, on an expanding list of trade items ranging from weapons to tobacco. He had also taken out several loans from Russia and Britain to pay for his extravagant lifestyle. In 1900 the Shah financed a royal tour of Europe by borrowing 22 million rubles from Russia, Iranian customs receipts served as collateral
4.
Persian Cossack Brigade
–
The Persian Cossack Brigade or Iranian Cossack Brigade was a Cossack-style elite cavalry unit formed in 1879 in Persia. During much of their history they were the functional, effective military unit of the Qajar Dynasty. Acting on occasion as kingmakers, this played a pivotal role in modern Iranian history during the Revolution of 1905–1911, the rise of Reza Shah. Together with a Swedish trained and officered gendarmerie, the Cossack Brigade came to comprise the most effective force available to the Iranian crown in the years prior to World War I. In spite of its name the Brigade was not a typical Cossack force as they were employed in the neighbouring Russian Empire, neither did it have the status of a guard unit. However, effectively it was an elite Cossack-style cavalry unit, as was asked to be created, late nineteenth century photographs show that Russian style uniforms were worn, in contrast to the indigenous dress of other Persian forces at the time. Such secondments were encouraged by the Imperial Russian Government who saw the Cossack Brigade as a means of extending Russian influence in a key area of international rivalry, after the October Revolution in 1917, many of these Russian officers left the country to join the White forces. The command of the Persian Cossack Division was subsequently transferred to Iranian officers, most notable among these officers was General Reza Khan, who started his military career as a private soldier in the Cossack Brigade and rose through its ranks to become a brigadier general. At the time of the Persian Cossack Brigades formation the Shah’s royal cavalry was described as having no training or discipline, the Qajar state at this point was very weak, lacking any professional military forces. In wars against the British the royal cavalry had been defeated, the Tsar Alexander II approved Russian military advisors travelling to Persia to fulfill the Shah’s request. The brigade was formed in 1879 by Lieutenant-Colonel Domantovich, a Russian officer. Russian interests and lack of funding slowed the development of the brigade into a professional fighting force. They possessed special privileges as a military caste. Domantovich made rapid progress with their training and the Shah ordered the strength of the new brigade to be increased to 600 men drawn from the regular army. The rapid progress of the Cossack Brigade caused concern in Russia due to fear that it may become a fighting force rather than a tool of the Russian government. Domantovich was dismissed as commander in 1881 and replaced by the less effective Colonel Charkovsij, Charkovsij added four artillery pieces to the arsenal of the Brigade in 1883 but made no other improvements. In 1886 Colonel Karavaev became commander, during his time, the Brigade faced with budget cuts and thus had its numbers diminished. In 1890 Colonel Shneur took over and was unable to pay the men, after many desertions, combined with a cholera epidemic, the strength was reduced to 450 men, and eventually cut down to 200
5.
Vladimir Liakhov
–
Polkovnik Vladimir Platonovitch Liakhov was the commander of the Persian Cossack Brigade during the rule of Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar. He gained considerable notoriety after shelling the Majlis of Iran and execution of several constitutionalist leaders on June 23,1908, as a sign of gratitude, Mohammad Ali Shah appointed him as the Military Governor of Tehran. During World War I he served at the Caucasian Front, in 1916 Lyakhovs troops captured Trabzon in the Trebizond Campaign. After the Russian Revolution, Lyakhov joined the White movement, serving in the Denikins Volunteer Army
6.
Russian Empire
–
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until it was overthrown by the short-lived February Revolution in 1917. One of the largest empires in history, stretching over three continents, the Russian Empire was surpassed in landmass only by the British and Mongol empires. The rise of the Russian Empire happened in association with the decline of neighboring powers, the Swedish Empire, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, Persia. It played a role in 1812–14 in defeating Napoleons ambitions to control Europe. The House of Romanov ruled the Russian Empire from 1721 until 1762, and its German-descended cadet branch, with 125.6 million subjects registered by the 1897 census, it had the third-largest population in the world at the time, after Qing China and India. Like all empires, it included a large disparity in terms of economics, ethnicity, there were numerous dissident elements, who launched numerous rebellions and assassination attempts, they were closely watched by the secret police, with thousands exiled to Siberia. Economically, the empire had an agricultural base, with low productivity on large estates worked by serfs. The economy slowly industrialized with the help of foreign investments in railways, the land was ruled by a nobility from the 10th through the 17th centuries, and subsequently by an emperor. Tsar Ivan III laid the groundwork for the empire that later emerged and he tripled the territory of his state, ended the dominance of the Golden Horde, renovated the Moscow Kremlin, and laid the foundations of the Russian state. Tsar Peter the Great fought numerous wars and expanded an already huge empire into a major European power, Catherine the Great presided over a golden age. She expanded the state by conquest, colonization and diplomacy, continuing Peter the Greats policy of modernisation along West European lines, Tsar Alexander II promoted numerous reforms, most dramatically the emancipation of all 23 million serfs in 1861. His policy in Eastern Europe involved protecting the Orthodox Christians under the rule of the Ottoman Empire and that connection by 1914 led to Russias entry into the First World War on the side of France, Britain, and Serbia, against the German, Austrian and Ottoman empires. The Russian Empire functioned as a monarchy until the Revolution of 1905. The empire collapsed during the February Revolution of 1917, largely as a result of failures in its participation in the First World War. Perhaps the latter was done to make Europe recognize Russia as more of a European country, Poland was divided in the 1790-1815 era, with much of the land and population going to Russia. Most of the 19th century growth came from adding territory in Asia, Peter I the Great introduced autocracy in Russia and played a major role in introducing his country to the European state system. However, this vast land had a population of 14 million, grain yields trailed behind those of agriculture in the West, compelling nearly the entire population to farm. Only a small percentage lived in towns, the class of kholops, close to the one of slavery, remained a major institution in Russia until 1723, when Peter I converted household kholops into house serfs, thus including them in poll taxation
7.
Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar
–
Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar was the sixth king of Qajar Dynasty, Shah of Persia from 8 January 1907 to 16 July 1909. He was against the constitution that was ratified during the reign of his father, in 1907 Mohammad Ali dissolved the parliament and declared the Constitution abolished because it was contrary to Islamic law. He bombarded the Majles with the military and political support of Russia, on 16 July 1909, the parliament voted to place Mohammad Ali Shahs 11-year-old son, Ahmad Shah on the throne. Mohammad Ali Shah abdicated following the new Constitutional Revolution and he has since been remembered as a symbol of dictatorship, having fled to Odessa, Russia, Mohammad Ali plotted his return to power. In 1911 he landed at Astarabad, Persia, but his forces were defeated, Mohammad Ali Shah returned to Russia, then in 1920 to Constantinople and later to San Remo, Italy, where he died on 5 April 1925. Every Shah of Persia since Mohammad Ali has died in exile and his son and successor, Ahmad Shah Qajar was the last sovereign of the Qajar dynasty. Princess Zahra Qajar Malekeh Jahan Olia Hazrat, daughter of Kamran Mirza Nayeb-os-Saltaneh Mohammad Ali Shah had six sons, Hossein Ali Mirza Etezad Saltaneh 2. Gholam Hossein Mirza died in infancy 3, Soltan Ahmad Mirza, later Soltan Ahmad Shah Qajar 4. Soltan Majid Mirza His daughters,1, princess Khadijeh Khanom, Hazrat-e Ghodsieh 2
8.
Persian Constitution of 1906
–
It divides into five chapters with many articles that developed over several years. The Belgian constitution, like the constitutions of other European states, the electoral and fundamental laws of 1906 established the electoral system and the internal frameworks of the Majlis and the Senate. By the royal proclamation of August 5,1906, Mozzafar al-Din Shah created this first constitution for the peace, muhammad Ali Shah Qajar is credited with chapters 4 and 5. The electoral law of September 9,1906 defined the regulations for the Elections to the Majlis, Article 7 asserted, Each elector has one vote and can only vote in one class. The fundamental laws of December 30,1906 defined the role of the Majlis in the system and it further defined a bicameral legislature. Article 1 established the National Consultative Assembly based on justice, Article 43 stated, There shall be constituted another Assembly, entitled the Senate. The supplementary fundamental laws of October 7,1907 established the charter of rights, the Supplementary Fundamental Laws of October 7,1907 consist of ten sections,1. Rights of the Persian Nation 3, Rights of Members of the Assembly 5. Powers of the Tribunal of Justice 8, the Army The original Fundamental Law, containing 51 Articles, was promulgated on Dhu’l-Qu’da 14, A. H.1324 by the late Muzaffaru’d-Din Shah. They also elaborate on the property rights of foreign nationals in Iran as well as the inability to suspend the principles of the constitution, in the Rights of the Persian Nation, articles 8-25 discuss an array of rights inherent to all citizens of Iran. These rights include personal and property rights as well as freedom of expression and they briefly touch on the rights of citizenship and to move freely within the country. This section includes the roles of the National Consultative Assembly and the Senate, in the Rights of the Persian Throne, the section begins with several articles outlining the duties of the Shah and the logistics of the throne. These include the process of succession to the throne, ascending to the throne and it further discusses the duties of the Shah like the appointment and dismissal of Ministers and The granting of military rank, decoration and other honorary distinctions. The shah also commands the military and has the final say on whether or not to wage war and this sections concludes in Article 57 by underlining the precise degree of power that the Shah obtains saying, Articles 58-70 comment on the duties and laws regarding the Ministers. This section also helps to establish the roles that Ministers play in the government. Several articles talk specifically about how Ministers are appointed as well as how they are accountable for their delinquencies. Several articles explain the rules for all proceedings of tribunals declaring that they must be public, in articles 83-89, the issue of appointment is addressed and explained in regards to the Public Prosecutor and the members of the judicial tribunals, corroborating with the laws set forth. The various Provincial and Departmental Councils are discussed in this section, the regulations and management of finances is provided in articles 94-103
9.
Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar
–
Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar, was the fifth Qajar king of Persia. He reigned between the years 1896 and 1907 and he is credited with the creation of the Persian constitution, and often wrongly credited with the rise of the Persian Constitutional Revolution which took place immediately after his death. The son of the Qajar ruler Naser al-Din Shah Qajar, Mozaffar ad-Din was named crown prince and he spent his 35 years as crown prince in the pursuit of pleasure, his relations with his father were frequently strained, and he was not consulted in important matters of state. Thus, when he ascended the throne in May 1896, he was unprepared for the burdens of office, at Mozaffar ad-Dins accession Persia faced a financial crisis, with annual governmental expenditures far in excess of revenues due to the policies of his father. He furthered this debt by borrowing even more funds from Britain, France, the income from these later loans was used to pay earlier loans rather than create new economic developments. In 1908, oil was discovered in Persia but Mozzaffar ad-Din had already awarded William Knox DArcy, a British subject, like his father he visited Europe three times. During these periods, on the encouragements of his chancellor Amin-os-Soltan, during his first visit he was introduced to the cinematographe in Paris, France. The following is an excerpt from the Shahs diary. 9,00 P. M. we went to the Exposition and the Festival Hall where they were showing cinematographe, then we went to Illusion building. In this Hall they were showing cinematographe. They erected a large screen in the centre of the Hall, turned off all electric lights. It was very interesting to watch, among the pictures were Africans and Arabians traveling with camels in the African desert, which was very interesting. Other pictures were of the Exposition, the street, the Seine River and ships crossing the river, people swimming and playing in the water. We instructed Akkas Bashi to purchase all kinds of it and bring to Tehran so God willing he can make some there, one example being the DArcy Oil Concession. Widespread fears amongst the aristocracy, educated elites, and religious leaders about the concessions and these resulted in the Shah accepting a suggestion to create a Majles in October 1906, by which the monarchs power was curtailed as he granted a constitution and parliament to the people. He died of a heart attack 40 days after granting this constitution and was buried in Masumeh shrine in Qom, lord Lansdowne, the Foreign Secretary, had designs drawn up for a new version of the Order, without the Cross of St. George. The King was so enraged by the sight of the design, though, however, in 1903, the King had to back down and the Shah was appointed a member of the Order. A nephew of his wife was Mohammed Mossadeq, the Prime Minister of Iran during the Pahlavi dynasty that was overthrown by a coup staged by the United Kingdom. Hamid Dabashi, Close Up, Iranian Cinema, Past, Present, ISBN 1-85984-332-8 Some fragmentary motion pictures of Mozaffar al-Din Shah Qajar, YouTube
