Mirza Kuchak Khan: Symbol of Iran’s Anti-Colonial Resistance
During World War I, Mirza Kuchak Khan formed the Jangal Movement in Gilan to resist increasing Russian and British influence. He led a popular, organized force that established forest-based strongholds and temporarily controlled parts of Gilan, including Rasht, while setting up rudimentary local administration.
Mirza’s struggle combined military action with a clear political vision: full independence of Iran, resistance to foreign domination, domestic reforms, and social justice. He refused to compromise Iran’s sovereignty, even during brief tactical alliances with Bolshevik forces in 1920.
When central government forces advanced, Mirza resisted until his final retreat to the highlands of Khalkhal, where he ultimately died in severe cold — cementing his legacy as a symbol of resilience and anti-colonial heroism.
Ayatollah Khamenei’s Perspective:
Ayatollah Khamenei highlights that Mirza Kuchak Khan and the Jangal Movement were “100% Iranian and Islamic” and praised their moral and religious foundations. He described the movement as a “miniature version of the Islamic Republic,” reflecting local governance, justice, and steadfast resistance to foreign oppression — values that shaped later developments in Iran.
Mirza Kuchak Khan remains a moral, spiritual, and national icon, whose sacrifice inspired subsequent freedom-seeking movements and strengthened Iran’s national identity.
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