An Analysis of Relations among Mashhad’s Bazaar Activists, Pahlavi Regime and Astan Quds Razavi in 1974-1979

This paper intends to explore causes of the collapse of trilateral coalition of Mashhad’s Bazaar Activists, Pahlavi Regime and Astan Quds Razavi between the years 1974 and 1979. This research work claims the existence of Mashhad’s Bazaar activists’ hostile attitude toward the Pahlavi regime and Astan Quds Razavi during the period under study. Reviewing the history of Astan Quds Razavi through library and documentary method as well as interviews with informed people, this paper intends to find an answer to the question of “How did the coalition of three important pillars of power in Mashhad turn hostile?” The hypothesis of this paper states that the trilateral relations of Bazaar, regime and Astan Quds broke apart when the two powerful elements of government and Astan Quds Razavi interfered in Bazaar affairs. The government fought overcharging, lack of business permits, and some other violations of law while Astan Quds Razavi destroyed the Grand Bazaar and abstained from paying rentals to the Bazaari landlords. As a result, Bazaar witnessed protests and general strikes during those five years (1974-1979). Findings of this paper indicate that Bazaar activists suffered serious pressures and damages during the period. Simultaneousness of the two plans augmented anger of the Bazaari people against the government and Astan Quds Razavi, convincing them to join the Islamic movement.