The policy of changing clothes and the reaction of Kurdish regions in the first Pahlavi period

Abstract

Dress reform to the Iranian society was not implemented till the coming of Reza Shah Pahlavi to power. Even during the rule of Qajar dynasty، dress uniform was implemented only to military and officials. Raza Shah along with his works towards modernization and creating national identity to establish a central government with absolute power، in 1308 (According to Iranian calendar) the law of uniform dress was made. This time، ordinary people were forced to wear the uniform dress. This followed by reactions among people and religious and tribal leaders in different areas including Kurdish inhabited areas. The uprising of Mullah Khalil is an example of resisting of the people in those areas against the government. The study has used descriptive analysis method and relied on sources like library، historical documents and oral history. The study’s result is that the government to implement dress uniform got benefit from Maarif and Awqaf (religious affairs) foundations along with pressure and violence. The religious and tribal Kurdish leaders resisted against the reform because they believed that this reform was a threat to their cultural، religious and national identity.