An Investigation of the Socio-political Impact of the Mystic Sects (Tarighats) of Kurdestān in the Early Decades of the 20th Century

In the early decades of the 20th century، the leaders of the mystic sects of Kurdestān، particularly the Naghshbandieh sect، took numerous measures in various places and in various domains of activity to increase their influence and socio-political power. The influence of the Naghshbandieh sect increased at the time of the constitution and after it. In the triple uprisings of SālārOldollah in Kurdestān، the Naghshbandieh sect defended him. With the rise of the First World War، the Naghshbandieh sect joined the Ottomans، entered Kurdestān with the Ottoman troops، and invited their followers to participate in Jihād (holy war) against Russia and England. Nonetheless، this sect occasionally entered into political dealings with the powers in the war. In general، the mystic sects in Kurdestān performed a large number of political and social activities in this period to increase their social and political power. However، when RezāKhān came to the throne، the Naghshbandieh sect failed in almost all its political and social efforts.