Location Qom, Iran Completed 1792 Opened 1792 | Architectural type School Address Qom, Iran Architectural style Iranian architecture | |
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Similar Azam mosque of Qom, Fatima Masumeh Shrine, Panzdah‑e‑Khordad Metro Station, Qom Jame' Mosque, Museum of the Qasr Prison | ||
Feyziyya School (Persian: مدرسه فیضیه) is an old school in Iran that was founded in the Safavid era. The school has been listed as one of Iran's national monuments as of January 29, 2008. The school served as a focal point for clerical opposition to Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi's White Revolution. In 1963 on Ashura, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini delivered a speech at the school denouncing the Shah, and was arrested as a result.
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Background
The Feyziyya School was founded in Qom during the Safavid era. An epigraph on the south veranda dates its construction to the reign of Shah Tahmasp. A school by the name of Astana existed at the site, from the 6th century until the 11th. Reconstruction was carried out under the Safavids and the school was renamed Feyziyya. The school was rebuilt and extended under Fath-Ali Shah in 1792. The school has 40 rooms on the first floor, 4 long veranda, 12 stalls and a square pool.
Opposition to the White Revolution
In 1963 Mohammad Reza Shah announced a program of reform he labelled the White Revolution. Members of the Iranian clergy were angered by proposed land reforms, and protested against these changes. Armored police were sent into a protest at the Feziyeh school on March 22 1963. This fell on martyrdom anniversary of Imam Jafar al-Sadiq who was a significant figure in the formulation of Shia doctrine. Some students and members of the clergy were killed during this crackdown, and the bodies of some students were thrown from the school roof. In response Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini announced the new year of 1963 as a day of public mourning.
Khomeini's sermon
On the afternoon of June 3, 1963, Ashura, Khomeini delivered a speech at the Feyziyeh school in which he denounced the Shah as a "wretched, miserable man", and warned him that if he did not change his ways the day would come when the people would offer up thanks for his departure from the country. His speech was heavily attended, to the extent that all of Feyziyeh's and Daralshafa’s courtyard, the courtyard of the shrine of Fatimah al-Ma‘sumah, the Astana square and the surrounding were full of people. Two days later, police and commandos entered Khomeini's home in Qom and arrested him. They hurriedly transferred him to the Qasr Prison in Tehran. These events triggered the Movement of 15 Khordad.
Registration in the National Monument
The Feyziyya school was registered as one of Iran's national monuments on January 29, 2008.