The Period of Mossaddeq and the Qashgais

The Period of Mossaddeq and the Qashgais

The Qashqai tribe, living in the southern regions of Iran, has played a very important role in Iran's political, historical and even international relations at various periods throughout history. This tribe reached the peak of its power during the time when Sowlat-ed-Dowleh (1873-1932) was Ilkhan. This situation continued until the period of Reza Shah, who emerged with the concept of nation-state and largely neutralized the tribes with his policy of pacification. After Sowlat-ed-Dowleh, who was arrested during the reign of Reza Shah Pahlavi and died suspiciously in prison, his four sons, Malek Mansur Khan, Mohammad Naser Khan, Mohammad Hoseyn Khan and Khosrow Khan (Qashqai Brothers), came to the fore in the administration of the Qashqai tribe and carried out important activities. However, the Qashgai brothers, who were intimidated and unable to take any active part during the Reza Shah period, found the opportunity they were looking for when Reza Shah was dethroned following the outbreak of World War II. With this new period, the Qashqai tribe, led by the Qashqai brothers, began to return to their traditional lifestyle, which they had to abandon due to the policies of Reza Shah Pahlavi. After Reza Shah, his son Mohammad Reza Shah came to the throne and the authority gap that emerged in the early stages of his reign gave them the opportunity they were waiting for and they began to strengthen the tribal confederation again. Again during this period, after Mohammad Mossaddeq (1951-1953), who came to the fore in the political arena with the National Front and the oil nationalization movement, was appointed to the prime ministry, the Qashgai leaders and tribe stood by him. Following the coup against Mossaddeq and his imprisonment, the Qashgais lost much of their power and became an open target of Mohammad Reza Shah due to their activities against him during this period. In line with this, the Shah first sent the Qashgai brothers into exile and then, with the Land Reform practice he initiated within the scope of the White Revolution in 1963, the lands of these leaders were taken from them. With the direct and indirect practices carried out by the Shah against the Qashqai tribe, this tribe lost much of its power and never regained its former power.