Muṭāli̒āt-i tārīkh-i farhangī(Cultural History Studies)

Revisiting the Abolition of the Zoroastrian Jizya, Emphasizing the Role of Cultural Diplomacy and British Soft Power

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

reza Shajari qasemkheili 1
Kazem Dadashqolizadeh Jelodar 2
Seyyed Hassan shojaee Divkolaee 3

1 Assistant Professor of History Department, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.

2 M.A. Graduate in History, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.

3 Associate Professor of History Department ,University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22034/chs.2026.579034.1166
Abstract
Developments concerning the status of religious minorities in Qajar‑era Iran were shaped by the interaction of internal factors and foreign interventions. The expanding influence of European powers and Iran’s increasing connections with them created new grounds for redefining the position of minority groups. Among these powers, the role of Britain -due to its historical ties with and strategic interests in the Zoroastrian community of India (the Parsis)- became particularly prominent. This study aims to examine Britain’s role in the abolition of the jizya tax imposed on Zoroastrians during the Qajar era. The central question is: What role did the British government play in the process of abolishing the jizya, and through what instruments and mechanisms did it exert its influence? Using a descriptive‑analytical method and drawing on archival documents, Qajar‑era newspapers, and historical sources, this research argues that despite the significance of internal dynamics, Britain’s continuous and coordinated pressure -through formal and semi‑formal diplomacy, letters of introduction, on‑the‑ground support, diplomatic lobbying, and the creation of a protective political umbrella- played an effective role in persuading the Qajar state to abolish the jizya.

Keywords

Cultural Diplomacy
Soft Power
Religious minorities
jizya
Zoroastrians
Qajar era
Britain
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Muṭāli̒āt-i tārīkh-i farhangī(Cultural History Studies)
Volume 17, Issue 66 - Serial Number 66
winter 2026
Winter 2026
Pages 107-142

  • Receive Date 18 April 2026
  • Revise Date 31 May 2026
  • Accept Date 07 June 2026
  • Publish Date 20 February 2026

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