Ali Akbar Davar
Encyclopedia
Ali-Akbar Dāvar was the founder of the modern judicial system of Iran
.
Born in 1888, he began his career in the judiciary in Iran
, after having completed his studies at the élite school of Dar ol-Fonoon (House of Sciences) in Tehran
. He then went on to obtain his law degree in Switzerland
. He returned to Iran
in 1921 and founded the "Radical party of Iran" (Hizb-e Radical). He also founded the newspaper Mard-e Azad ("The Free Man") in which he published regular comments. He was elected to the 4th, 5th, and 6th Majles
as the representative of Varamin
from Tehran Province
and Lar from Fars Province.
Along with the likes of Abdolhossein Teymourtash and Farman Farmaian, Dāvar took a lead role among the politicians who voted for the abolition of the Qajar dynasty, opposing such parliamentarians as Sayyed Hasan Taqizadeh, Sayyed Hasan Modarres
, Yahya Doulatabadi and Mohammad Mossadegh. In 1925, Dāvar became minister of Commerce in the Foroughi
Cabinet, and a year later was appointed Minister of Judicial Affairs in the Cabinet of Mostowfi ol-Mamalek
. In March 1926, with the approval of the parliament he dissolved Iran's entire judiciary, initiating a wave of fundamental restructuring and overhauling reforms with the aid of French
judicial experts.
Iran's modern judicial system was thus born in April 1927 with 600 newly-appointed judges in Tehran
. Dāvar subsequently attempted to expand the new system into other cities of Iran through a programme involving training of 250 judges.
Among Dāvar's many achievements are establishing Iran's "Bureau of Social Affairs" (Edareh-ye Sabt-e Ahval), introducing "The Law of Documentation Registration" (Qanun-e Sabt-e Asnad), "The Law of Property Registration" (Qanun-e Sabt-e Amlak), and "The Law of Marriage and Divorce" (Qanun-e Ezdevag va Talāq).
Dāvar also implemented some reforms as minister of Finance in the Cabinet of Mohammad-Ali Foroughi. He further established Iran's first state insurance
company in the Cabinet of prime minister Mahmud Jam
, taking effective steps in saving the state from near bankruptcy by modifying the tax
laws.
In December 1936, he proposed a bill to Majlis that would seal a large contract with two American
companies. The bill came under heavy protest from the British and the Russian governments, putting intense pressure on Dāvar's ministry.
On 10 February 1937 the news of Dāvar's apparent suicide took the capital Tehran by storm. Rumors spread that two days earlier Dāvar had been in private severely reprimanded and threatened by Reza Pahlavi
. Some newspapers wrote that he had died of a heart attack, however others suggested that his death had been related to his proposed American bill to Majlis.
Dāvar is regarded as one of the most productive ministers during Iran
's tumultuous years of the early 20th century, who made sweeping reforms to Iran's judicial system. In commemorating Dāvar, Reza Pahlavi
is said to have told to members of the Judiciary: "Don't ever think that you can become as good as Dāvar, by merely sitting in his chair."
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
.
Born in 1888, he began his career in the judiciary in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, after having completed his studies at the élite school of Dar ol-Fonoon (House of Sciences) in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
. He then went on to obtain his law degree in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. He returned to Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
in 1921 and founded the "Radical party of Iran" (Hizb-e Radical). He also founded the newspaper Mard-e Azad ("The Free Man") in which he published regular comments. He was elected to the 4th, 5th, and 6th Majles
Majlis of Iran
The National Consultative Assembly of Iran , also called The Iranian Parliament or People's House, is the national legislative body of Iran...
as the representative of Varamin
Varamin
Varamin is a city in and the capital of Varamin County, Tehran Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 208,569, in 53,639 families.Varamin has an extensive history...
from Tehran Province
Tehran Province
Tehran Province is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. It covers on area of 18,909 square kilometers and is located to the north of the central plateau of Iran....
and Lar from Fars Province.
Along with the likes of Abdolhossein Teymourtash and Farman Farmaian, Dāvar took a lead role among the politicians who voted for the abolition of the Qajar dynasty, opposing such parliamentarians as Sayyed Hasan Taqizadeh, Sayyed Hasan Modarres
Hassan Modarres
Seyyed Hassan Modarres , was an Iranian Twelver Shi'a cleric and a notable supporter of the Iranian Constitutional Revolution. He was among the founding members, along with Abdolhossein Teymourtash, of the reformist party Hezb-e Eslaah-talab of the time, which was formed during the fourth...
, Yahya Doulatabadi and Mohammad Mossadegh. In 1925, Dāvar became minister of Commerce in the Foroughi
Mohammad Ali Foroughi
Mohammad Ali Foroughi Zoka-ol-Molk was a teacher, diplomat, writer, politician and Prime Minister of Iran. He was born to a family from Isfahan and studied at the élite Dar ul-Funun in Tehran. In 1907 he became the dean of the College of Political Sciences.In 1909 Foroughi entered politics as a...
Cabinet, and a year later was appointed Minister of Judicial Affairs in the Cabinet of Mostowfi ol-Mamalek
Mostowfi ol-Mamalek
Mirza Hasan Ashtiani Mostowfi al-Mamalek was an Iranian Politician who served as Prime Minister of Iran on six separate occasions.-Early Life:...
. In March 1926, with the approval of the parliament he dissolved Iran's entire judiciary, initiating a wave of fundamental restructuring and overhauling reforms with the aid of French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
judicial experts.
Iran's modern judicial system was thus born in April 1927 with 600 newly-appointed judges in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
. Dāvar subsequently attempted to expand the new system into other cities of Iran through a programme involving training of 250 judges.
Among Dāvar's many achievements are establishing Iran's "Bureau of Social Affairs" (Edareh-ye Sabt-e Ahval), introducing "The Law of Documentation Registration" (Qanun-e Sabt-e Asnad), "The Law of Property Registration" (Qanun-e Sabt-e Amlak), and "The Law of Marriage and Divorce" (Qanun-e Ezdevag va Talāq).
Dāvar also implemented some reforms as minister of Finance in the Cabinet of Mohammad-Ali Foroughi. He further established Iran's first state insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
company in the Cabinet of prime minister Mahmud Jam
Mahmud Jam
Mahmoud Jam was a Prime Minister of Iran from 1935 to 1939.Born in Tabriz, he began his political career as a French-Persian translator, and climbed his way up to Prime Minister....
, taking effective steps in saving the state from near bankruptcy by modifying the tax
Tax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
laws.
In December 1936, he proposed a bill to Majlis that would seal a large contract with two American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
companies. The bill came under heavy protest from the British and the Russian governments, putting intense pressure on Dāvar's ministry.
On 10 February 1937 the news of Dāvar's apparent suicide took the capital Tehran by storm. Rumors spread that two days earlier Dāvar had been in private severely reprimanded and threatened by Reza Pahlavi
Reza Pahlavi
Reza Pahlavi may refer to:*Reza Shah , aka Reza Shah Pahlavi, Shah of Persia from 1925 until 1935 and Shah of Iran from 1935 until 1941* Mohammad Reza Pahlavi , Shah of Iran from 1941 to 1979, son of Reza Shah...
. Some newspapers wrote that he had died of a heart attack, however others suggested that his death had been related to his proposed American bill to Majlis.
Dāvar is regarded as one of the most productive ministers during Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
's tumultuous years of the early 20th century, who made sweeping reforms to Iran's judicial system. In commemorating Dāvar, Reza Pahlavi
Reza Pahlavi
Reza Pahlavi may refer to:*Reza Shah , aka Reza Shah Pahlavi, Shah of Persia from 1925 until 1935 and Shah of Iran from 1935 until 1941* Mohammad Reza Pahlavi , Shah of Iran from 1941 to 1979, son of Reza Shah...
is said to have told to members of the Judiciary: "Don't ever think that you can become as good as Dāvar, by merely sitting in his chair."
Further reading
- Davar Ardalan, My Name Is Iran: A Memoir (Henry Holt and Co., New York, 2007). ISBN 0-805079-203, ISBN 978-0805079203.
External links
- The Judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran
- Islamic Republic of Iran Judiciary Public Relations Bureau
- Dāvar's great grand daughter on NPR 2
Source used for this article
- 'Alí Rizā Awsatí (عليرضا اوسطى), Iran in the past three centuries (Irān dar Se Qarn-e Goz̲ashteh - ايران در سه قرن گذشته), Vol. 2 (Paktāb Publishing - انتشارات پاکتاب, Tehran, Iran, 2003). ISBN 9-649340-653.