QR codeQR code

The Opening of the First Iranian National Assembly in October 7th 1906

28 Jan 2015 - 11:31

The constitutional Firman (decree) was issued on August 5th 1906. The decree provided an opportunity for the people to form a majlis consisting of their deputies to make consultations over the important affairs of the country and to watch the functions of the ministers. According to this manuscript...


Azita Laqai
 
The constitutional Firman (decree) was issued on August 5th 1906. The decree provided an opportunity for the people to form a majlis consisting of their deputies to make consultations over the important affairs of the country and to watch the functions of the ministers. According to this manuscript, Mozaffaraddin Shah committed himself "to provide the regulations and articles of association of the majlis and the facilities for its formation." On the rerun of the clergies who had migrated to Qom, and following the usual meetings, Majlis was formed by three to four thousand people including the clergy, the merchants, the ministers, the princes and the ordinary men in Nezamieh School. On the reasons for this meeting, Moshiroddowleh announced: "since the bill for the rules of elections and the bill of constitution should be prepared carefully by his majesty and it is clear that it takes considerable time, in order to show his will, his majesty had ordered the temporary place for this honorable majlis should be determined so that the clergies, ministers, the noblities, the merchants and the guilds gather and enjoy sweets and sherbets." Hajj Sheikh Mehdi Sultan Almotekallemin delivered a speech on behalf of nation and thanking the Shah and his Sadre Azam added that "for the present, we start with the deputies of the capital and expect the enterance of the elected members of other of parts of the country so that the national consultative assembly is formed according to the constitution as soon as possible and its virtuous results become apparent with God's help."
 
Following his speech, the attendants enjoyed sweets and sherbets and then left the majlis. Thus the temporary majlis whose members were not elected by people's votes was formed. This majlis held sessions two times a week and twelve people were missioned to form the regulations of majlis elections. Among these we can refer to: Morteza Qoli Khan Sanioddowleh, Mokhberossaltaneh, Haj Aminozzarb, Mohaqqeqodowleh, Sadiq Hazrat, Haj Moein Boushehri, and Agha Mirza Mohsen. Following Mozaffaraddin Shah's ratification of the regulations, Tehran elections began on September 16th 1906. It was agreed that the majlis should be opened after Tehran elections and should not wait for the results of the provinces. The watchers of Tehran elections were Mokhberossaltaneh as the head, Moshir Divan Monshi Bashi on behalf of Sadir-Azam, Azamossaltaneh and KhazenolMolk as the Tehran governor's representative, Assadollah Mirza, and Saqatossaltaneh on behalf of the princes, Amjadossultan on behalf of the Qajars, Agha Seyyed Haj Agha and Mirza Taher Tonokaboni, Seyyed Mohammad Taghi Harati and Sheikh Seifoddin on behalf of the clergies, Haj Seyyed Mohammad Sarraf on behalf of the merchants, Haj Mohammad Ibrahim and Agha Sheikh Hossein Saqatforoush on behalf of the guilds. Almost all members were elected up to October 2nd 1906. Nazem-ol Eslam Kermani claims in his the History of the Iranian's Awakening, this majlis is not based on the regulations and there were much dishonest practices on the course of elections. He believed the rich had paid large amounts of money to change the results. He presents some cases to document his claims. The next stage was to determine the Majlis session. Yahya Dowlatabadi writes: "It was agreed that in the fifteenth day of Shaban, the birthday of Shiate Twelfth Imam, the Majlis will be inaugurated, but due to two reasons it was postponed to another date, one for the reason that elections of the provinces had not finished yet, the second that the opening day should be a special holiday distinct from a religious holiday.
 
Therefore, an official invitation letter was sent by Moshiroddowleh, the premier to all clergies, ministers, the princes, the nobilities and the foreign ministers to ask for their attendance in the Brilliant Hall of Gulestan Palace on October 7th 1906. Mozaffaraddin Shah attended the Majlis and NasserolMolk read Shah's text of speech. Then military music was played. Sanioddowleh was elected as the speaker of Majlis and the first Majlis started its work officially.


Story Code: 1557

News Link :
https://www.iichs.ir/en/news/1557/the-opening-of-the-first-iranian-national-assembly-in-october-7th-1906

IICHS
  https://www.iichs.ir