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Communism and Communalism in Iran: The Tudah and the Firqah-I Dimukrat

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2009

Extract

Iran has experienced the rare phenomenon of having two pro-Soviet Communist parties simultaneously: the Hizb-i Tudah-i Iran (Party of the Iranian Masses), known as the Tudah; and the Firqah-i Dimukrat-i Azarbayjan (Democratic Party of Azarbayjan), or simply, the Firqah-i Dimukrat.

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Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1970

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References

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page 299 note 1 The fifteen elected to the provincial central committee were; Dr M. Bahrami, Dr M. Yazdi, Dr R. Radmanish, I. Iskandari, N. Alamutti, A. Nushin, ‘A. Kubari, N. 'Azazi, I. Muhazari, R. Rusta, Dr F. Kishavarz, A. Avanissian, S. Iskandari, 'A. AmirKhizi, and Z. Alarnutti. Bibliographical information concerning the leadership of the Tudah has been obtained from the trials of 'the fifty-three’, newspaper articles, journals, and interviews.

page 300 note 1 The members of the central committee were: N. Alamutti, Dr M. Bahrami, P.Gunabadi, A. Avanissian, E. Tabari, I. Iskandari, A. Amir-Khizi, Dr R. Radmanish, M. Buqrati, ‘A. Kambakhsh, and Dr F. Kishavarz. Investigation committee: Dr M. Yazdi, Dr H. Jawdat, 'A. Nushin, Khalil Maliki, A. 'Alavi, R. Rusta, A. Qassimi, Dr N. Kianuri, and Z. Alamutti. Organization committee: 'A. Kambakhsh, T. Fidakar, T. Makinizhad, 'A. Kubari, N. 'Azazi, Z. Alamutti, and M. Farjami. Propaganda committee: P. Gunabadi, A.Khamah, Dr Gh. Furutan, Dr S. 'Aqili, S. Muhammadzadah, H. Khir-Khah, and H. Jahani. Finance committee: Dr M. Yazdi, 'A. Amir-Khizi, and R. Rusta.

page 301 note 1 'A., Kamabakhsh, ‘The Formation of the Tudah Party of Iran’, Dunya, vol. 2 (Autumn 1966), pp. 2436.Google Scholar

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page 302 note 1 Union of Silk Weavers in Mazandaran, ‘A Declaration’, Rahbar, 27 06 1943.Google Scholar

page 302 note 2 Union of Tobacco Workers in Tehran, ‘A Declaration’, Zafar, 11 04. 1946.Google Scholar

page 302 note 3 ‘A. Hakmi, ‘Workers’ Organizations and Their Enemies’, Rahbar, 25 05 1944.Google Scholar

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page 303 note 1 Rahbar, 10 02. 1943.Google Scholar

page 303 note 2 The minutes of the congress were published in Rahbar, 2 08–7 09. 1944.Google Scholar

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page 304 note 1 Hashtrudiyan, R., Mas'alah-yi Millat (The Problem of Nationalities) (Tehran, Shirkat-i Sahami, 1945).Google Scholar

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page 305 note 2 Society of Iranian Socialists, ‘Text of Khalil Maliki's Defense at His Trial’, vol. II (10. 1966), pp.3656.Google Scholar

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page 308 note 1 Bamshad, ‘Pishavari's Disappointment with the Tudah Party’, Aras, 1 01. 1947.Google Scholar

page 308 note 2 Bibliographical information concerning the leaders of the Firqah-i Dimukrat have been obtained from Mujtahidi, M., Rajal-i Azarbayjan (Politicians from Azarbayjan) (Tehran, Chapkhanah-i Jahan, 1948);Google ScholarAnon., ‘Get to Know the Leaders of the Firqah-iDimukrat’, Khvandani-ha, vol. 6 (15 12. 1946), pp. 1213;Google ScholarAnon., ‘The Leaders of the Firqah-i Dimukrat’, Rahbar, 9 10. 1946;Google ScholarAnon., ‘History of the Firqah-i Dimukrat’, Rahbar, 121309. 1946; and miscellaneous newspaper articles.Google Scholar

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page 310 note 1 The government history of the Iranian communist movement described these men as ‘illiterate’ and ‘uninformed’. Governor of Tehran op. cit. p. 21.Google Scholar

page 310 note 2 The other four were: Y. Azima, Minister of Justice; Dr Mahtash, Minister of Agriculture; Dr Urangi, Minister of Health; and M. Kabiri, Minister of Post and Telegraph.

page 310 note 3 Letter of the U.S. ambassador in Iran to the Secretary of State, U.S. Department of State, Foreign Relations of the United States (Washington, D.C.: G.P.O., 1969), 1945, vol. VIII, p. 503.Google Scholar

page 310 note 4 Editorial, ‘Azarbayjan is the Center of Iranian Patriotism’, Ittila'at, 24 09. 1945.Google Scholar

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page 311 note 2 Editorial, ‘Long Live Azarbayjan’, Darya, 2 10. 1945.Google Scholar

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page 312 note 1 Amir-Khizi, A., ‘The Role of Azarbayjan in the Creation of an Independent and Democratic Iran’, Rahbar, 29 03. 1946.Google Scholar

page 312 note 2 A., Khamah, ‘Toward Solving the Azarbayjan Problem’, Rahbar, 23 04. 1946.Google Scholar

page 312 note 3 Radmanish, R., Debates of the Lower House of Parliament, op. cit. 14th Majlis, 174th Meeting, 25 12. 1946.Google Scholar

page 312 note 4 Editorial, ‘The Farsi Language is the Best Means of Protecting Our National Unity’, Shahbaz, 20 01. 1946.Google Scholar

page 312 note 5 Editorial, ‘The National Language of Azarbayjan is Farsi’, Iran-i Ma, 9 12. 1945.Google Scholar

page 313 note 1 Editorial, ‘Tehran Can and Must Retain Azarbayjan’, Iran-i Ma, 20 03. 1946.Google Scholar

page 313 note 2 Zafar, 10 05 1946.Google Scholar

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page 313 note 5 For signs of their popularity in Azarbayjan see: New York Times, 14 12. 1946;Google ScholarHomayounpour, P., L'Affaire d'Azerbaijan (Lausanne, Lausanne University Press, 1967), pp. 59, 79, 133, and 145. In 11.Google Scholar the U.S. ambassador wrote to the Secretary of State: ‘Our consul and the British consul in Tabriz agree movement would probably collapse if Russian support disappeared but also agree that there is fairly substantial popular sympathy of movement and feel population of Azerbayjan has real grievances against the central government.’ U.S. Department of State, Foreign Relations of the United States (Washington, D.C.: G.P.O., 1969), 1945, vol. viii, p. 465.Google Scholar

page 314 note 1 Rahbar, 12 01. 1946.Google Scholar

page 314 note 2 Society of Iranian Socialists, op. cit. p. 50.Google Scholar

page 315 note 1 For a discussion of the sudden collapse see Zabih, S., The Communist Movement in Iran (Berkeley and Los Angeles, University of California Press, 1966), pp. 117–22.Google Scholar

page 316 note 1 Tudah Party, Maramnamah-i Hizb (Party Program) (Europe, Intisharat-i Hizb-i Tudah-i Iran), pp. 5 and 78.Google Scholar

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page 316 note 3 Radmanish, R., ‘The December 12th Movement’, Dunya, vol. 2 (Winter, 1965), pp. 918.Google Scholar