One of the most important tasks given to Reza Khan was to divest the clergy of any influence with the intention of destroying religion. So, once he took power in 1934 and 1935 he began to dismantle the clergy’s influence. Reza Khan adopted a coercive manner. He assumed he could carry out his work with coercion. He banned wearing a turban and the long robe, as well as clergy titles and seminaries. He devastated—as he thought—the seminaries of Qom and Mashhad, as much as possible. Of course, he could not. Our dear Imam Khomeini was one of the seminary students of that era, the time when the clergy was supposed to completely collapse, due to Reza Khan’s pressures and repressions. But not only the clergy did persist, but also people like the magnanimous Imam Khomeini emerged among them. The Reza Khan's dynasty did not comprise of only Reza Khan. There were also some of the so-called scholars, thinkers and ideologists of the Reza Khani system who would plan and suggest ideas. When they saw that the pressures did not work, they developed a new plan with the Reza Khan’s money, support and Command and Policy Organization. The plan included the establishment of an institute named "Wa'z wa Khataba" in Tehran. Unfortunately, the young generation are not familiar with these facts. The establishment of "Wa'z wa Khataba" [literally: preaching and sermons] dates back to 1937 and 1938-- two or three years after the beginning of opposing the clergy. The institute was founded so that anyone who wanted to remain a clergyman could remain a clergyman only if they were under the supervision of this institute, which was affiliated to Reza Khan! In other words, they only wanted clergymen who would comply with Reza Khan and serve the policies of the arrogant power.
Comment