History of Oppression

1936–1941: Widespread suppression of ethnic minorities—especially Kurds, Azeris, and Baluch—through military campaigns.
Banned use of non-Persian languages in education and media.
1940: Dozens of writers, poets, and political dissidents were arrested and tortured or exiled.

Reza Shah built a militarized police state. Fascism was a model for his governance.

1925: Reza Khan was declared Shah after abolishing the Qajar dynasty through a staged process in the Constituent Assembly, effectively ending constitutional monarchy and establishing a dictatorship.
Dissolved Iran’s fledgling parliament and banned all opposition parties.
1931–1935: Heavy censorship and imprisonment of critics intensified. Newspapers were shut down; prominent intellectuals jailed.

Established centralized authoritarian rule by crushing tribal, ethnic, and religious groups.
Suppressed minorities and banned cultural dress.
Used military courts to silence dissent.

1936–1941: Widespread suppression of ethnic minorities—especially Kurds, Azeris, and Baluch—through military campaigns.
Banned use of non-Persian languages in education and media.
1940: Dozens of writers, poets, and political dissidents were arrested and tortured or exiled.

1936–1941: Widespread suppression of ethnic minorities—especially Kurds, Azeris, and Baluch—through military campaigns.
Banned use of non-Persian languages in education and media.
1940: Dozens of writers, poets, and political dissidents were arrested and tortured or exiled.

Reza Shah (1925–1941)

Fact: Reza Shah banned independent press and executed dissidents, laying the groundwork for his son's police state.

1975: Shah declared Iran a one-party state under the Rastakhiz Party. Political pluralism abolished. Citizens were forced to join or face punishment.
1977–1978: Dozens of journalists, clerics, and students arrested, tortured, or killed in protests leading up to the revolution. Martial law imposed. Jaleh Square massacre occurred in 1978.

1975: Shah declared Iran a one-party state under the Rastakhiz Party. Political pluralism abolished. Citizens were forced to join or face punishment.
1977–1978: Dozens of journalists, clerics, and students arrested, tortured, or killed in protests leading up to the revolution. Martial law imposed. Jaleh Square massacre occurred in 1978.

1949: The Shah banned the Tudeh Party and imprisoned its leaders. Thousands of its members were purged from public jobs and jailed.
1953: Following the CIA- and MI6-backed coup against Prime Minister Mossadegh, the Shah established a brutal autocracy and returned to power. Mass arrests and executions followed.
1957: Formation of SAVAK (secret police). Over the next two decades, thousands were imprisoned, tortured, or “disappeared” for opposing the monarchy.
1963: The Shah crushed protests during the June uprising. Hundreds of protesters were killed or imprisoned without trial.
1971: Extravagant Persepolis celebrations for 2,500 years of monarchy cost over $100 million while many Iranians lived in poverty.

1949: The Shah banned the Tudeh Party and imprisoned its leaders. Thousands of its members were purged from public jobs and jailed.
1953: Following the CIA- and MI6-backed coup against Prime Minister Mossadegh, the Shah established a brutal autocracy and returned to power. Mass arrests and executions followed.
1957: Formation of SAVAK (secret police). Over the next two decades, thousands were imprisoned, tortured, or “disappeared” for opposing the monarchy.
1963: The Shah crushed protests during the June uprising. Hundreds of protesters were killed or imprisoned without trial.
1971: Extravagant Persepolis celebrations for 2,500 years of monarchy cost over $100 million while many Iranians lived in poverty.

"While the Shah dined on foie gras, millions had no access to clean water."

"While the Shah dined on foie gras, millions had no access to clean water."