The martyrdom of Sheikh Mohammad Khiabani, the warrior constitutionalist clergyman

Mohammad Khiabani was born in 1880 in Khamene, East Azerbaijan. Having accomplished preliminary studies, he acquired Fiqh, Usol, astronomy and astrology in the presence of Ayatollahs Seyyed Abulhassan Angji and Mirza Abdul Ali, and then engaged in teaching for a while. His life entered into a new phase subsequent to the victory of constitutionalism and with foundation of provincial association in Tabriz. He played a prominent role in defending Tabriz during its being surrounded. In his age, the world of Islam and especially Iran were in a chaotic condition due to foreign interventions directed from Britain, Russia and Germany. Subsequent to dethronization of Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar, Khiabani, then 30, was elected the representative of people of Tabriz to National Consultative Assembly. He ignored Russian ultimatum in the 2nd Majlis (Parliament) and also objected against colonial treaty between Vosoq al-Dowleh and Britain (Treaty of 1919). Perceiving the central government weak and subservient, Khiabani considered a substantial change in the governing system of Iran and revival of freedom as the first step towards cleaning of Iran and kicking the occupiers out of the country. But, the first step was not to be taken via political negotiations but through courageous uprising and resistance against foreign tyranny and intervention. Along these lines, he uprised in Tabriz in response to approval of the Treaty of 1919 by Iran. During his uprising, began on April 5, 1920, he took over government institutions and centers in Tabriz. The victorious uprising of people of Tabriz prolonged for more than 5 months, but betrayal of those who had promised to assist, paucity of their forces and also cooperation of the Cossack brigade around Tabriz with government forces against the people eventually brought their defeats. Eventually with his being crushed by Mokhber al-Saltaneh, the special envoy of Moshir al-Dowleh, and arrival of Cossack and government forces to the city, Sheikh Mohammad Khiabani was martyred on September 11, 1920 and was buried in Seyyed Hamzeh Cemetery of Tabriz. The cemetery was later turned into a school, and later after the destruction of the school the tomb of Khiabani was destroyed as well

Mohammad Khiabani was born in 1880 in Khamene, East Azerbaijan. Having accomplished preliminary studies, he acquired Fiqh, Usol, astronomy and astrology in the presence of Ayatollahs Seyyed Abulhassan Angji and Mirza Abdul Ali, and then engaged in teaching for a while. His life entered into a new phase subsequent to the victory of constitutionalism and with foundation of provincial association in Tabriz. He played a prominent role in defending Tabriz during its being surrounded. In his age, the world of Islam and especially Iran were in a chaotic condition due to foreign interventions directed from Britain, Russia and Germany. Subsequent to dethronization of Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar, Khiabani, then 30, was elected the representative of people of Tabriz to National Consultative Assembly. He ignored Russian ultimatum in the 2nd Majlis (Parliament) and also objected against colonial treaty between Vosoq al-Dowleh and Britain (Treaty of 1919). Perceiving the central government weak and subservient, Khiabani considered a substantial change in the governing system of Iran and revival of freedom as the first step towards cleaning of Iran and kicking the occupiers out of the country. But, the first step was not to be taken via political negotiations but through courageous uprising and resistance against foreign tyranny and intervention. Along these lines, he uprised in Tabriz in response to approval of the Treaty of 1919 by Iran. During his uprising, began on April 5, 1920, he took over government institutions and centers in Tabriz. The victorious uprising of people of Tabriz prolonged for more than 5 months, but betrayal of those who had promised to assist, paucity of their forces and also cooperation of the Cossack brigade around Tabriz with government forces against the people eventually brought their defeats. Eventually with his being crushed by Mokhber al-Saltaneh, the special envoy of Moshir al-Dowleh, and arrival of Cossack and government forces to the city, Sheikh Mohammad Khiabani was martyred on September 11, 1920 and was buried in Seyyed Hamzeh Cemetery of Tabriz. The cemetery was later turned into a school, and later after the destruction of the school the tomb of Khiabani was destroyed as well