‘BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES OF PERSIAN STATESMEN AND NOTABLES, SEPTEMBER 1909’ [‎44r] (92/156)

Caused by Aqa Najafi and his followers. He was summoned to
Tehran in 1904, and shortly afterwards was allowed to return to
Ispahan. These proceedings very much resembled those of 1890,
as described in the Biographical Notes published in 1898, which are
quoted below.
(Biographical notices, 1898).
A qd Najafi continued his fanatical activity in Ispahan after his return
there in 1904, and will probably always give trouble to the
Government, and be a source of perpetual menace to the peaceful
population of Ispahan.
Has received a present from his Majesty’s Legation in return for
an undertaking to abstain from preaching against English
Missionary work at Ispahan, of which he has always shown
himself a violent enemy.
Erom 1905 to 1908 Aqa Najafi did not take a very prominent part
in Ispahan affairs; but his brother Shaikh Nurullah gave much
trouble. He brought about the dismissal of the Zill-us-Sultan
from the Governorship of Isfah&n in February 1907 and having
again made friends with the Zill-us-Sultan intrigued with
him in 1908, but made no effort to support the cause of the
popular party which he pretended to espouse when the ex-Shah
effected the coup d'etat in Tehran on June 23rd, 1908.
Aqa Najafi, Shaikh Muhammad, All; Shaikh Nurulla, his brother.
These three brothers are Mujtahids of Ispahan, and sons of the late Haji
Shaikh Muhammad Baqir, who was a very influential man. The
first mamed has great influence and many followers. He interferes
in almost every public affair and in many private ones. After
the Zill-us-Sultan he is probably the richest man in Ispahan. He is
the great enemy of the Babis, and has caused many of them to be
killed. In 1889-90, he had a number of Shaikhls killed, although
they were under the protection of Government troops. For
this, at the instance of Her Britannic Majesty’s Minister, he
was brought to Tehran, but was treated with so much honour,
that when he returned to Ispahan his fame and power were
largely increased. He and his brothers have more than once
interfered w r ith British merchants, to the latter’s detriment.
They also twice caused European goods to be boycotted in the
bazars of Ispahan.
They are fair representatives of the fanatical party of Persia.
They have given much trouble to the British Legation at Tehran
owing to their persecutions of the Jews.
316. RaihIntjllah, AqI, Saiyid, (Mujtahid, Burujirdf—born about 1825).
Is the leader of the anti-Jewish party. Persecuted the Jews in
Hamadan, 1896, and led that movement against them in Tehran
in 1897. Besides close to the mosque of Muhammad Khan,
Sipah Salar ; is very learned, has many followers among the
lower classes.
Is very poor, but has considerable influence.
317. Rustam Abadi, HAji, Akhund, (born about 1835).
Is much respected by the ’Ulama of Najaf and Persia. Preaches at
the Masjid-i-Khan. Resided many years at Najaf. Has property
at Rustamabad in Shimran. Was much respected by Nasir-
ud-Din Shah.
Took a prominent part on December 15th—20th, 1907, in the ex-Shah’s
interest in the unsuccessful attempt at a coup d'etat directed