Rıza Şah’ın İran’ı Modernleştirme Politikası: Kadınların Örtü ve Çarşafının Yasaklanması
Reza Shah's Policy to Modernize Iran: The Ban on Women's Veils and Burqas

Summary/Abstract: After Reza Shah took power in Iran, his aim was to modernize the country in political, economic, social and ideological areas by taking the West as an example. To this end, Reza Shah made reforms in many areas, especially in the army, bureaucracy, economy and industry. Afterwards, Reza Shah made new regulations so that men's and women's clothing would have a modern appearance. For this reason, Reza Shah first made it mandatory for men to wear a uniform. After visiting Turkey in 1934, Reza Shah was greatly impressed by Ataturk's reforms and the clothing of Turkish women. After returning to his country, Reza Shah began preparations for Iranian women to dress like Turkish women. According to Reza Shah, women's veils and chadors were both a major obstacle to the country's progress and also evoked "reactionism". For this reason, Reza Shah, who made propaganda, especially through newspapers and magazines, for Iranian women to take off their veils, was supported by some intellectuals, women and bureaucrats who had studied in Europe during this process. Finally, in January 1936, Reza Shah banned Iranian women from going out wearing veils. Notably some women and the clergy reacted against the ban on veils. The clergymen made great efforts to get Reza Shah to reverse his decision to ban veils. However, when Reza Shah did not reverse his decision, the clergymen organized protest demonstrations in some cities in Iran, such as Shiraz, Khorasan, and Mashhad. Although many opponents lost their lives during these demonstrations, Reza Shah did not back down.

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