Society of the Supporters for Progress, Society for the Progress of Iran or Society of the Seekers of Advancement of Iran ( fa, جمعیت ترقی‌خواهان ایران, Jamʿīyat-e Taraqqiḵāhān-e Irān) or simply the Progressives, also known as the Liberals ( fa, آزادی‌خواهان, Āzādīḵᵛāhān) was a political party in constitutional period Persia and was active during the 2nd term of the

Majlis ( ar, المجلس, pl. ') is an Arabic term meaning "sitting room", used to describe various types of special gatherings among common interest groups of administrative, social or religious nature in countries with linguistic or cultural conne ...

, 1909–1911. Progressives championed the development of the southern provinces of Persia and consisted of MPs representing the southerners. They promoted the building of hospitals, women's education and regarded Persian as "the official and scholarly" language of Iran. Its organ ''Jonub'' () was printed in Tehran and usually criticized the Bakhtiari, and held the view that the Iranian government did not understand the importance of the Persian Gulf region. The newspaper defended democracy and civil rights and explained that the "level of progress of any nation is symbolized in its degree of freedom of expression and press" and that the elections are the only means to exercise popular sovereignty and protect territorial integrity as well as national interests. The party was small and insignificant in numbers, but held the balance of power in the 2nd Majlis, allying with the

Moderate Socialists Party Moderate Socialists ( fa, اجتماعیون اعتدالیون, Ejtemāʿīyūn-e eʿtedālīyūn) or simply Moderates Party ( fa, فرقه اعتدالیون), was a political party in Qajari Persia and one of the two major parties of the const ...

and

Union and Progress Party The Committee of Union and Progress (CUP) ( ota, اتحاد و ترقى جمعيتی, translit=İttihad ve Terakki Cemiyeti, script=Arab), later the Union and Progress Party ( ota, اتحاد و ترقى فرقه‌سی, translit=İttihad ve Tera ...

against the Democrat Party.

References

Political parties established in 1909 1909 establishments in Iran Political parties in Qajar Iran Islamic political parties in Iran Liberal parties in Iran Anti-imperialist organizations Nationalist parties in Asia Progressive parties {{iran-party-stub