A Review on the Process of Limitation of Shiite Clerical Organization,s Influence in Reza Shah Pahlavi,s Era

Inspired by the West particularly by Atatürk in Turkey Reza Khan took some measures in order to establish himself and set up a government free from influence of religion and clerics. Although reconstruction of this era compatible with the pattern of western modernism was carried out partially and imperfectly, its important result i.e. secularism was taken up and implemented to considerable extent. In this regard the Shiite clergy organization as religious institution was subjected to delimitation and even removal from the scene of society to the extent members of this organization were led to the direct confrontation with concrete cases of modernity of Reza Shah era. This article attempts to respond the fundamental question what influence Reza Shah's reformations and modernist policies had on power and influence of Shiite clergy organization in Iranian society. According to the author of this article the influence and power of Shiah clerics decreased remarkably for two decades (1930-1950) as the result of Reza Shah's measures in reconstruction of army and administration, judicial educational systems and charitable endowments organization in his government.