FLOGGED A PRIEST

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 199, 24 August 1931, Page 8

FLOGGED A PRIEST

SHAH OF PERSIA’S DEED INSULT TO QUEEN AVENGED. Oustide of Arabia, Persia, is the last refuge of Moslem fanaticism. Bordering on Turkey, where they have abolished religion and unveiled, women, Persia still maintains the system of polygamy, harems and the veil. Even the beautiful Queen of Persia is compelled in public to wear a long cloak over the latest Parisian frocks, and cover her face with a white gauze veil. She must not lift it. When she did there was a riot.

While her husband, Rhiza Khan, the occupant of the oldest throne in the world, a throne mentioned in the Bible and one occupied, by Cyrus, who brought the Jews out of captivity, was on a military inspection in the vicinity of the capital, Teheran, the queen went to one of the numerous shrines of miraculous reputation to offer up prayers. The whole of Persia is scattered with such shrines, and they are often infested with the worst characters, for the police cannot enter. They offer “sanctuary” to ’prisoners who have escaped, even murderers. The queen was accompanied by one of her ladies-in-waiting, and an orderly who sat outside in the car while she was at her devotions. The mosque had been cleared, and not a soul was about except a fanatical priest who was on the roof overlooking the courtyard. As the queen emerged from the stifling heat of the mosque into the open air, she lifted her veil. The act was answered by a howl of frenzy from the priest, who raced out to tho assembled crowd of roughs and fanatics, ready always for mischief, and said a woman ha«l desecrated the shrine. As the terrified queen heard the uproar she raced for her car. The police made \way for her, and she got away just in time. The King of Persia was once a common soldier. Before that he was employed in a foreign consulate. He is a man of broad sympathies, and has recently outraged Moslem prejudices by allowing American archaeologists to photograph shrines and mosques hitherto closed to infidels. This has been done largely by the influence of Professor Upham Pope, of Pennsylvania. As soon as the queen had been driven to safety the king was communicated with by telephone. He was furious at the news, but as night was falling and the roads were none the best he had to wait till the following morning before he could act. The following day was a Friday, the Moslem sabbath, and the shrine was crowded by fanatics from all over the neighbourhood, who were expecting trouble, states the “New York Herald Tribune- ”

The priest who had looked on the face of the queen was in the pulpit. He drew through two long hours an awful picture of the passing of Persia into the hands of the accursed Christians by the adoption of their habits and •customs by the king. All this time a powerful car was being driven at break-neck speed by the khaki-clad king. By his side was a heavy leather military riding whip. None heard the car draw up outside the shrine, but presently above the voice of the preacher rose the jingle of spurs and a thousand voices under their breath “the king.” Not an instant did he hesitate. Had he done so he might now have been dead.

The king leapt up the steps to the pulpit, and, seizing the black beard of the priest, threw him down five feet below. Then he belaboured him until tho priest fainted with pain. The shah threw down the whip and faced the mob. No one moved. Without a word he strode out, having risked his life to avenge an insult to his queen. The news spread like wildfire, but mention was suppressed by the rigorous censorship.