A Century Ago in the Land of Lion and Sun; The Tobacco Boycott Movement

In the following series of talks, we introduce a book titled "Life in the Muslim East"; the author of this book is Pierre Ponafidine, who wrote it in Russian, and his wife, Emma Kusheran Ponafidine, translated it into English. The English translation of the book was published in 1911, just over 100 years ago, and contains the author's memories from 36 years of work and life as the consul of the Kingdom of Russia in Iran and the Ottoman Empire, as well as his travels to various regions of Iran, 'Turkish Arabia' (Hijaz, Baghdad, Basra, and parts of Kurdish Iraq), and 'India'. The section on Iran is titled 'In the Land of Lion and Sun'. However, there are also references to topics related to Iran in other sections, including the status of women in Iran within the framework of Sharia and custom, as well as the general situation of Kurds who lived in that period under the citizenship of both the Ottoman Empire and Iran. This work also contains photographs that the author and his wife took in Iran, the Ottoman Empire, and India. The Tobacco Boycott Movement A Century Ago in the Land of Lion and Sun Book: Life in the Muslim East (1911) Written by: Pierre Ponafidine Selected and Free Translation: Abbas Javadis In the previous talk, I referred to the importance of the Shiite holy sites in the city and mosque of Samarra and mentioned that this city and its mosque have less importance and even wealth compared to Karbala and Najaf, but Haj Mirza Hassan Shirazi, the great jurist residing in this city, has unparalleled importance and influence among Shiites in Iran and other countries. I became acquainted with this great cleric when he was over seventy years old and needed a cane to go to the mosque where he spent most of his time. Followers and supporters of this jurist came from all corners of Iran, Russia, India, and Bukhara to see him. In the streets of the city that were on his way to the mosque, I saw thousands of people lined up to greet him and kiss his hand. Mirza Hassan Shirazi regularly received thousands of dollars as donations and alms, but he spent them all on poor and needy people and lived in utmost simplicity. It was impossible for anyone to leave a meeting with him empty-handed, without receiving advice or financial assistance. Although Haj Mirza Hassan was a deeply faithful Muslim, he was not dogmatic and always thought and acted with understanding and interaction towards other religions and non-Muslims. From the text of the book It really seems that Haj Mirza Hassan was from another world. He regularly received thousands of dollars as donations and alms, but he spent them all on poor and needy people and lived in utmost simplicity. It was impossible for anyone to leave a meeting with him empty-handed, without receiving advice or financial assistance. Haj Mirza Hassan, although a deeply faithful Muslim and the best jurist of his time, was not dogmatic and always thought and acted with understanding and interaction towards other religions and non-Muslims. We had correspondence for a while on topics of mutual interest. Haj Mirza Hassan's letters were very simple, sincere, and devoid of the usual ceremonial phrases in the Eastern world. It is also interesting that the beginnings of the letters from 'Mirza' to me, a Christian, although not like the letters written to Muslims, began with phrases in Arabic that meant: 'Peace be upon all those who follow the path of God.' (The original text and probably the Arabic of this phrase are not mentioned in the original book. Despite some speculation, the original Arabic of this phrase was avoided to prevent any mistakes. -m.) Haj Mirza Hassan, alongside his daily lessons and sermons at the Samarra mosque, corresponded with many jurists inside Iran, and although many of the jurists in Iran were at the same level as Haj Mirza Hassan, they all followed the decisions and recommendations of 'Mirza'. It did not matter that Haj Mirza Hassan lived in Turkey (present-day Iraq, m.) and the Iranian jurists lived inside Iran. The high scientific status of 'Mirza', combined with his personality and demeanor, simple life, humility, and naturally his interaction and understanding with everyone, gave him such spiritual influence and power that all the prominent jurists of Iran accepted Haj Mirza Hassan's decisions without question. He even had no qualms about expressing his opinion or defending the jurists residing in Iran in front of the Qajar king and court. Haj Mirza Hassan's widespread influence among Iranians became particularly evident when all people across Iran, including the army and even the royal court, refrained from smoking tobacco for seven weeks at his invitation. Many readers of these memories may not fully grasp the significance of the tobacco boycott in Iran. However, it should be noted that there may not be another country in the world where smoking tobacco is so prevalent among both men and women. In Iran, two types of tobacco are cultivated. The first is ordinary tobacco used for cigarette production, and the second is a specific type known as 'tobacco' used for smoking in water pipes. Smoking water pipes is common throughout the East, and water pipe tobacco is considered one of Iran's most important export products. No gathering, visit, or even negotiation, whether private or official, is without the presence of a water pipe. Even some wealthy individuals who place great importance on the type of tobacco or the quality of their water pipe bring a servant with them to parties to carry the necessary water pipe, tobacco, and even the special charcoal. Many Muslims begin their iftar during Ramadan with a puff from the water pipe. On November 21, 1891, Haj Mirza Hassan intervened by sending a telegram to various parts of Iran, inviting people to cease tobacco consumption throughout the country. Indeed, people across Iran, including the army and even the royal court, stopped smoking cigarettes and water pipes. After this fatwa, the situation became dangerous. Iran was facing the threat of revolution. In December, the government retreated again, announcing that the monopoly would only apply to exported tobacco. However, this action was also not accepted. From the text of the book Despite the popularity of water pipes in the lives of Iranians, in March 1880, the Iranian government signed a contract granting the monopoly of tobacco trade to a British company. When the first rumors about this contract spread in Iran, the first wave of discontent was observed. The people understood that this would have negative consequences for tobacco producers and traders in Iran and would also lead to an increase in tobacco prices for Iranian consumers. A year later, a large number of employees from the new British monopoly company settled in major cities to start selling tobacco exclusively. The arrival of foreigners and the exclusive sale of Iranian tobacco to Iranians ignited the flames of protests. Initially, unsigned letters were sent to the king and his close associates and advisors, which became increasingly harsh in tone. These letters stated that the government was surrendering Iran's national interests to foreigners, an accusation that did not seem entirely unfounded. Persian newspapers published in Istanbul and Cairo also intensified the tone of their articles against the tobacco monopoly. Despite the customs administration's efforts to prevent these newspapers from entering Iran, travelers still brought such publications into the country. Many were arrested, but tensions among the people continued to escalate. Eventually, the clergy also began to defend the people's demands. In protests influenced by the clergy in Shiraz, military forces intervened and suppressed the protesters. Then Tabriz continued the protests, and unrest intensified even further. A popular and respected cleric in Tabriz, Haj Mirza Jawad Mujtahid, accused the government of selling Iran's interests to foreigners in his sermons (Haj Mirza Jawad Mujtahid Tabrizi is the paternal grandfather of the translator of these memoirs, Abbas Javadis, -m.). The crowd that had become agitated attacked the home of the English monopoly company's agent in Tabriz, endangering the lives of the city's Christian community. The Tabriz uprising against the tobacco monopoly intensified to the point that the government decided to exempt the province of Azerbaijan from the tobacco monopoly law. However, this retreat was not very effective, as unrest had spread to Mazandaran and Khuzestan as well. The news of the definitive abolition of the tobacco monopoly was sent to Haj Mirza Hassan in Samarra, and after he received full assurance of the law's repeal and the government's sincerity, he lifted the tobacco boycott and allowed the smoking of water pipes and cigarettes again. After seven weeks of abstaining from tobacco, the people received this news with joy and delight. From the text of the book Finally, on November 21, 1891, Haj Mirza Hassan intervened by sending a telegram to various parts of Iran, inviting people to cease tobacco consumption throughout the country. Indeed, people across Iran, including the army and even the royal court, stopped smoking cigarettes and water pipes. Haj Mirza Hassan wrote in his fatwa that any monopoly contradicts the spirit of the Quran and that, for this reason, the products of the monopoly company are forbidden, and their tobacco consumption is prohibited. After this fatwa, the situation became dangerous. Iran was facing the threat of revolution. In December, the government retreated again, announcing that the monopoly would only apply to exported tobacco and would not include tobacco consumed domestically. However, this action was also not accepted. On December 23, in Tehran itself, rebel groups besieged the king's palace. Only with the intervention of military forces was this siege broken, but several people were killed or injured in this operation. The country's situation had become revolutionary. A special council of ministers was formed and urgently consulted with the jurists to help calm the situation in the country. The jurists categorically refused the government's request for assistance. Discontent even spread to the royal court and the king's harem. The government, which saw no support from any corner of the country, was forced to surrender. In June 1892, it was officially announced in all cities of Iran that the law of the tobacco trade monopoly had been completely and unconditionally abolished. A Century Ago in the Land of Lion and Sun Book: Life in the Muslim East (1911) Written by: Pierre Ponafidine Selected and Free Translation: Abbas Javadis The news of the definitive abolition of the tobacco monopoly was sent to Haj Mirza Hassan in Samarra, and after he received full assurance of the law's repeal and the government's sincerity, he lifted the tobacco boycott and allowed the smoking of water pipes and cigarettes again. After seven weeks of abstaining from tobacco, the people received this news with joy and delight. The government, after enduring months of public discontent, weakening of governmental power, and suffering human and financial losses, breathed a sigh of relief, although it was obligated to pay a substantial compensation of 500,000 British pounds to the foreign company. However, the Iranian government only paid 194,000 pounds of this amount, of which 139,000 pounds was given as a 'gift' (probably to the agents of the monopoly company, -m.). In the next section, I will talk about my and my wife's journey by steamboat from Baghdad to Basra and about visiting the ruins of the ancient city of Ctesiphon, the capital of the Parthian and Sassanian Iran.