The approval of the mandatory selection of a family name.

On August 21, 1934, the government of Reza Shah passed a law requiring every Iranian to adopt a family name. Until that day, the people of Iran were known only by a single name: "Mohammad," "Ali," "Fatemeh."

But from that day on, everyone had to also have a surname: "Mohammadi," "Alavi," "Fatemi." This law, in appearance, was a step toward modernization; but in practice, it became one of the government's tools to exert greater control over the people.

Because now the government could identify anyone by their first and last name.