Grand Ayatollah Shirazi honors legacy of 1920 Revolution leader Mirza Taqi Shirazi

Grand Ayatollah Shirazi honors legacy of 1920 Revolution leader Mirza Taqi Shirazi

In a statement marking the anniversary of the death of the 1920 Revolution leader, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq al-Husseini al-Shirazi paid tribute to the late Mirza Sheikh Muhammad Taqi al-Shirazi, praising his pivotal role in Iraq’s struggle against British colonialism.

Published on the official website of his office, the statement commemorated the passing of Mirza Shirazi on the 13th of Dhu al-Hijjah, describing him as a singular figure who mobilized religious scholars, tribal forces, and various societal segments to lead a historic resistance movement at a time when Britain was the world’s most dominant colonial power.

“He was the only person who initiated and led the 1920 Revolution,” the statement read, noting his deep piety, realism, and commitment to justice as key to the movement’s strength. “He confronted colonial rule with knowledge, faith, asceticism, and vision.”

Grand Ayatollah Shirazi also highlighted that Iraq’s population at the time was under five million, referencing the book The Luminous Truths, yet Mirza Shirazi’s leadership sparked a mass uprising that challenged the British Empire’s hold over the country.

He called on younger generations to follow the example set by Mirza Shirazi, emphasizing that such figures offer a path to dignity, resistance, and national pride through knowledge, faith, and courage.