The Public Reaction of Azerbaijanis to the Cultural Policies of Reza Shah

Changing the cultural appearance of society by force during the Reza Shah rule was in the agenda of cultural organization of the country. Westernization, Anti-Islamism and imposing totalitarian nationalism were the main elements of cultural policies in this specific period. In many cases the cultural programs were overlapping each other while they would move toward the main goal they would also guarantee reaching some other cultural goals. To change the cultural context of the society and institutionalize unveiling, immorality and Ancientoriented nationalism, cultural and political elements of the regime in Eastern Azerbaijan executed several programs. Students and educated people were in the core of the goal community in these new cultural policies. At first the public reaction of Tabriz people showed itself in the opposition of clergies and their activities to clarify the matter for public. Then in 1928 the public rise challenged the uniform and anti-Islamist policies of the regime.