The position of Karbala scholars against the British occupation 1914 -1921

Abstract

The shi'i scholars in the holy Cities , including Karbala , had played an honorable role in their resistance to the British occupation of Iraq . They took part in the Jihad in 1914 ; they led the masses to Basra for the salce of the sacred religious duty . After , the occupation of Iraq , the British followed a despotic policy . They brolce their repetitive promises for Iraqis to get their independence . That was evident in the referendum they in 30 November 1918 through which Britain attempted to misleadingly show for Iraqis that its intention was to fulfill the promise of independence . Yet , the manner , adopted by the British made it clear that the in intention was to maintain the British ruling of Iraq , Therefore , the religions scholars in Karbala , including sheikh Mohammad Taqi Al- shirazi , got a leading role in facing and fighting that occupation through fat was against the British . Those scholars kept rejecting any foreigne existence . They also hoped for shareef Hussain .Meanwhile , Mohammad Ridha , the son of Mohammad Taqi Al- shirazi , had led the revolutions against Britians which ended up with arresting , and his companions of scholars . Accordingly , Al- shirazi issued of ficially his famous fatwa against Britians , He formed a local national government in Karbala headed by him . lnflaenced by the large number of martyrs who fell in Jihad, he got ill and got dead