Ramadan 27th marks anniversary of tobacco-banning fatwa by Mirza Shirazi

The 27th of Ramadan marks the anniversary of the famous fatwa issued by Mirza Shirazi to ban tobacco.

The Tobacco Ban Movement was the turning point of the anti-colonial struggles of the Iranian people, especially because they stood up against colonialism and tyranny under the leadership of independent Marja’iyah and achieved victory.

As a result, the Qajar king officially accepted defeat against the people and the religious authority by cancelling the concession made to the English company Reghi.

Due to historical and geopolitical reasons, Iran was never directly colonized. Rather, colonialist powers, especially the British, plundered the resources and national wealth of the Iranians by taking advantage of the weakness of the despotic greedy rulers of the country.

When Naser al-Din Shah Qajar granted the monopoly of selling tobacco to British colonialism, pupils and followers of Mirza Shirazi staged widespread protests in several cities of Iran.

This was followed by the issuance of the historical fatwa by the Marja, banning tobacco, which meant the nationwide spread of demonstrations, which even penetrated the inside of the Qajar court.

The Tobacco Ban Movement and the historical fatwa of Mirza Shirazi serve as one of the most important historical examples that show independent Shia religious authorities have always defended the rights of the people and stood by them against authoritarian and colonial governments.

The solidarity and national unity in support of the independent Marja’iyah was the main reason for the victory of this movement.