How the Freemasons influenced Iran’s modern history

The political movement that led to Iran’s first constitution in 1906 – which established the country’s first parliament – was underpinned by an intellectual revolution which absorbed and adapted ideas from the European Enlightenment. How these ideas came to influence Iran, given the absence of a print industry in the country, is a question that has long intrigued intellectual historians. One route was membership of the Freemasons. 

In 1835, three Iranian Princes paid a visit to London where they visited and commented on the varied and interesting developments that were taking place in England, including the construction of the Thames Tunnel – an engineering wonder – and a review of the political system which was described in thoroughly whiggish terms. Their fascination with British notions of liberty was writ large throughout the diary they kept of their visit. One entry for 27 July is especially intriguing: 

‘…went to a house in which the Lodge of Friendship of Freemasons was assembled.