e Riot of the Bakhtiaris in 1929 (e Riot of Ali Morad Khan Bakhtiari)

Document Type : Research Paper

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Abstract

In 1929 widespread rioting occurred within the Bakhtiari tribe and caused serious problems for the newly-formed Pahlavi government. ­is rioting, which was led by a Bakhtiari khan named Ali Morad Khan, brought many casualties and losses to the newlyestablished army of Reza Shah and therefore forced him to adopt a new policy toward the Bakhtiari tribe. Arresting the tribe leaders and weakening the political and military power of the Bakhtiaris through disarming them and forcing them to settle were the main features of this policy.
­The most important question about this event is: what were its roots, and what results did this rioting have for the Bakhtiari tribe? ­is leads to another essential question: was this rioting an anti-government movement from its beginning or was it an intra-tribal conflict?
Based on the records and evidence available on the factors triggering this rioting, this research aims to study its effects on the relations between the Bakhtiaris and Reza Shah, and the essence of this rioting from the perspective of the rioters' approach toward the newly-established Pahlavi government.

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