The Fifty-Three

The Fifty-Three were a group of 53 Iranians arrested for involvement in communist political activities in 1937^[1] and brought to trial in November 1938 in the most sensational of the political trials held during the reign of Reza Shah Pahlavi.^[2] Some, such as Dr. Taqi Arani, died in jail - the rest were released in 1941.^[3]

As a result of the similarity with the prosecution of the Old Bolsheviks in the Stalinist show trials in the Soviet Union in 1936–1938, some jested that Rezā Shāh was performing an imitation of Joseph Stalin.^[2]

The fifty-five were:

^ Daniel, Elton L. (2001). The History of Iran. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 0313307318.
^ ^a ^b Abrahamian 1999, p. 48
^ Alavi, Bozorg (2009). 53 Nafar (Fifty-three People) (in Persian). Negah. ISBN 978-9643510688.

[1] Daniel, Elton L. (2001). The History of Iran. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 0313307318.

[Abrahamian_1999,_48-2] Abrahamian 1999, p. 48

[3] Alavi, Bozorg (2009). 53 Nafar (Fifty-three People) (in Persian). Negah. ISBN 978-9643510688.

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