The Process of Improving the Status of Zoroastrians in Iran and the Abolition of Jezyah During the reign of Nāser al-Din Shāh (Based on the Recent Documents Discovered in Yazd)

Jezyah had been part of the tax system imposed on religious minorities. From the very first days of its introduction to Islam, it was addressed to as demeaning and humiliating towards religious minorities. The abolition of many laws concerning religious minorities was the result of some developments in Iran, especially in foreign relationships during the Qajar era. Jezyah is a prominent example of these developments. On the dawn of modernization in Iran, by the efforts of Mirza ‘Isa Qaem Maqam and probably on the request of European, Jezyah was abolished for Christians but Zoroastrians were still severely suffering because, in addition to Jezyah, they were under several other enforcements. With the rise in abroad journeys, Parsis of India became informed about the deplorable situation of their Iranian coreligionists. They founded “Zoroastrians Welfare Society” and following that, Charity Institution, sent representatives to Iran and diligently endeavored to make improvements in their status. Parsis’ representative, Mankji came to Iran and after more than three decades of effort and paying huge amounts of money, not only succeeded in abolishing Jezyah for Zoroastrians but, with multilateral supports, improved their cultural, social and economic status. The present article has been prepared based on some original, unpublished documents in possession of the writer.