Majalleh-ye Estebdad explained

Editor:Sheikh Mehdi Qomi
Founder:Sheikh Mehdi Qomi
Founded:1907
Firstdate:16 July 1907
Finaldate:24 April 1908
Finalnumber:34
Country:Qajar Iran
Based:Tehran
Language:Persian

Majalleh-ye Estebdad (Persian: مجلهٔ استبداد|italic=yes|lit=The Journal of Despotism) was a satirical magazine based in Tehran, Iran. It was one of the publications founded following the Iranian Constitutional Revolution such as Nasim-e-Shomal and Sur-e Esrafil.

History and profile

Majalleh-ye Estebdad was launched in Tehran in 1907.[1] [2] The founder was Sheikh Mehdi of Qom, known as Sheikh al-Mamalek, who also edited the magazine.[1] The first issue appeared on 16 July 1907.[3] It was a hand-printed publication.[4] For the issues 1–17 the format of the magazine was 16.5x20.5 centimeters, whereas for the issues 18–34 it was 10x16.5 centimeters.[3]

Although it existed during the Iranian Constitutional Revolution it was neither a supporter of it nor an anti-constitution publication.[1] Instead, it narrated events in the course of the revolution using satire.[5] However, the magazine did not publish any cartoon or caricature.[1]

The last issue numbered 34 appeared on 24 April 1908.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ali Gheissari. Satire in the Iranian Constitutional Press: Introducing the Majalleh-ye Estebdat. Foundation for Iranian Studies. 24 August 2021.
  2. Book: Ali Rahnema. The Rise of Modern Despotism in Iran: The Shah, the Opposition, and the US, 1953–1968. Oneworld Publications. 2021. 978-0-86154-143-0. 45. London. Ali Rahnema.
  3. Ali Gheissari. Despots of the World Unite! Satire in the Iranian Constitutional Press: The Majalleh-ye Estebdad, 1907-1908. Comparative Studies of South Asia, Africa and the Middle East. 2005. 25. 2. 363. 10.1215/1089201X-25-2-360. Ali Gheissari.
  4. News: Ahmad Sadri. Facebook and Iran's presidential election. The Daily Star. 17 October 2021. 12 June 2009. Beirut. .
  5. Book: Charles Kurzman. E. H. Chehabi. Vanessa Martin. Iran's Constitutional Revolution. Popular Politics, Cultural Transformations and Transnational Connections. 2010. I. B. Tauris. 9781848854154. 278. Mashrutiyat, Meşrutiyet, and Beyond: Intellectuals and the Constitutional Revolutions of 1905-12. London; New York. Houchang Chehabi. Charles Kurzman. Vanessa Martin. https://kurzman.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1410/2017/10/Kurzman_Mashrutiyat_Mesrutiyet.pdf.