Page 345 - PERSIAN 9 1931_1940

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CHAPTER III.

SUMMARY OF EVENTS AND CONDITIONS IN THE PROVINCE
OF FARS DURING THE YEAR 19*35.

Situation.—Quiet prevailed throughout the year and government con-
tinued to extend its authority in the Province.
Conditions.—Efforts towards “westernization” have added a strong
flavour to the Nationalist diet of the people.
The “Pahlevi” cap worn throughout the country was superseded by the
European hat. Orders were received from the capital in June, that all
officials must discard this cap and it was soon evident that the decree was
to be imposed upon all classes. The European hat or cap were in general
use at the end of July.
To this end the officials and military adopted measures not provided
for in the Constitution. Applicants at Government offices were refused
admission unless wearing the “international” hat. This ban was extended
to the unshaved. The Police at the town gates collected! the caps of the
villagers which were subsequently burnt in the bakers’ ovens. For some
days military patrols in the streets and bazaars tore off and cut up the
*'Pahlevi'’' caps of the people.
The “mujtehid” and others holding permits to wear the “ ’imameh ”
(turban) were called upon in October to deposit their permission at the
Governorate General for inspection. Three of these permits only had been
returned by the end of the year.
The measures for the unveiling of women are becoming strict. Orders
were received from the capital in the second part of the year that school
girls and their teachers must discard the “chuddur”. These orders were
not rigidly enforced at first and it was believed that an extension had been
given to the teachers until after the summer holidays.
A physical drill display by unveiled girls under 17 years of age held
at the annual schools prize giving before the Minister of Education in April
led to an open telegram of protest to the Shah by the aged and fanatic
Sheikh Ja’afar Mahalatti and the more rabid Sheikh Seyyid Nur-ed-din.
Swift retribution followed when the Governor-General received orders
from His Majesty to inflict punishment at his discretion upon the peti­
tioners, his sentence to require no confirmation. The Governor-General
was able to let off both the religious dignataries with a severe reprimand
but a monthly allowance paid to the senior out of “waqf” funds was stopped
and allocated to the schools.
In December the department of Education received fresh orders that
the “chuddur” must be discarded at the schools. The announcement of
the execution at Meshed of the Naib-ut-Towlieh (official custodian of the
Shrine) Mohammed Wali Assadi, found guilty by a court martial of
fomenting the disturbances there against the change of men’s head gear
in July, appears to have been taken advantage of by the authorities to
enforce the unveiling of women. Officials were ordered that their women
must appear in public without the “chuddur” and a test was made at a
reception given by the Governor General on December 30th, on the occasion
of the arrival at Shiraz of the Minister of Finance. The only lady to
ignore this order was the wife of Sultan Hussein (Khan) Rukhshani, the
director of the Finance Department, and her action led to the immediate
suspension of her husband and his recall to Tehran.
The unveiling of the women has been pressed on steadily. Govern­
ment officials have received an allowance for the provision of clothing for
their families. Admission of women in “chuddur” to cinemas, hotels,
etc., is forbidden and thev may not ride in public vehicles. The senior
military officer and his wife have held receptions for the officers attended
by their wives in European dress and the police^ have ordered the ending
landowners, merchants, traders, etc., to follow this example.