This infamous Massacre, which took place in the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (PBUH) occurred on 10 July 1935. At first it started as a simple popular people's strike against Reza Shah's policies to forcibly replace the traditional clothing styles of the men and women with Western styles and other policies such as heavy consumer taxes.

Initial protest against the new laws was in the form of attempting to have a meeting with Reza Shah by way of Ayatollah Hossain Qumi. However, the Shah was not interested in having a face-to-face meeting on the subject and ordered the Ayatollah to be arrested and later on with some 100 other prominent supporters from Mashhad. Upon hearing that he and the others were arrested, the people of Mashhad went to the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (PBUH) to make their protest and when Hujjatul Islam Bohlood arrived at the Holy Shrine, he was immediately arrested, instigating the situation. The protestors began a strike in the Gowhardshad courtyard of the Holy Shrine, denouncing the Shah's heretical and harmful policies. The protestors began shouting slogans against the Shah's regime and for four days there was a standoff between the local police, army, and protestors because the police and army refused to invade the sanctuary of the Holy Shrine. Eventually, after a direct order by Reza Shah, the Holy Shrine was raided, killing over a thousand people and injuring several hundred. The bullet holes can still be seen in Gowhardshad courtyard and mosque.