Politics of Khuzestan province: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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==Roots of ethnic tension==

[[Arabs of Khuzestan|Arab]] [[autonomy]] in western Khuzestan began during the middle of the [[15th century]] [[Common Era|CE]] under the ''[[Msha'sha'iya]]'', an extremist [[Shi'a]] [[sect]] founded and first led by [[Muhammad ibn Falah]] ([[1400]]-[[1461]]), an [[Iraqi]] [[theologian]] who believed himself to be the earthly representative of [[Imam Ali]] and the [[Mahdi]]. Falah and his followers captured the city of [[Hoveizeh]] in 1441, which became his primary base of ideological dissemination. His spiritual teachings were later set down in the text, ''Kalam al-Mahdi''. The [[Arab]] population in western Khuzestan thereafter began increasing significantly, and the region thus came to be referred to as ''Arabistan''. By the time of [[Mozaffareddin Shah]], the name ''Arabistan'' had come to completely refer to all of Khuzestan (also see ''[[Origin of the name Khuzestan#Arabistan]]'').

Beginning in the [[19th century]], the ''[[Bani Kaab]]'', an Arab tribe originating from what is now [[Kuwait]], came to dominate western Khuzestan under the leadership of [[Sheikh Jabir al-Kaabi]]. Upon passing away, his son, [[Sheikh Maz'al]], took over as tribal leader. In [[1897]], Maz'al was murdered (some accounts state he was assassinated) by his brother, [[Sheikh Khaz'al|Sheikh Khaz'al Khan]], who then not only assumed the position of Kaabide leadership, but also proclaimed himself the ruler of all ''Arabistan.''