Plain Clothes Agents Opened Fire at 2 Dervishes

HRANA News Agency – On Thursday, November 16, 2011, Security agents attempted to detain two members of Nimatullahi Gonabadi Sufi Sect in Kavar County, Fars Province, Iran, and opened fire at them when the dervishes resisted arrest.

According to a report by Majzooban Nur, Nimatullahi Gonabadi Order website, on Thursday afternoon, while Zabehe Kurdpour and Reza Poshtkar were heading towards the dervishes’ temple in Kavar County, security agents together with plain-clothes officers stopped them and attempted to detain both dervishes.When Zabehe Kurdpour and Reza Poshtkar resisted arrest and tried to escape, security agents opened fire at them.During this incident, no one was injured.

Recently, pressure on Gonabadi dervishes in Kavar County has increased, and more arrests are made continuously such that the members of this religious minority feel more threatened and insecure every day.

Copyright © 2009-2011 All Rights Reserved

Mostafa Daneshjo Arrested

HRANA News Agency – Mostafa Daneshjo, the attorney representing Nimatullahi Gonabadi Sufi Sect, was arrested on Wednesday evening, May 18, 2011.

 

According to a report by Majzooban Nur, Nimatullahi Gonabadi Order News Site, on Wednesday evening, a large number of security agents raided Mostafa Daneshjo’s office and arrested him.  His whereabouts are unknown at the present time.

 

So far, the reason for Mostafa Daneshjo’s arrest hasn’t be announced, and there has been no news from this defense attorney and social activist.

 

In related news, it has been reported that on Sunday, May 15, 2011, fourteen members of Nimatullahi Gonabadi Sufi Sect were summoned by Gonabad County’s special unit in the prosecutor’s office in order to carry out their flogging sentences.

Gonabadi Dervish, Abbas Sharyati, Arrested in Yazd

HRANA News Agency – On Thursday morning, September 29, 2011, Abbas Sharyati, a member of Nimatullahi Gonabadi Sufi Sect, was arrested in Yazd.The number of arrests continues to rise as pressure on Gonabadi dervishes increase throughout the country.

According to a report by the Campaign to Protect Dervishes’ Rights, a group of security agents arrested Abbas Sharyati in Yazd and took him to an unknown location.Thus far, the reason for this arrest has not been announced, and Abbas Sharyati’s whereabouts are unknown.

On Wednesday, September 28, 2011, Nusrat Tabasi, another detained member of Nimatullahi Gonabadi Sufi Sect, was transferred from solitary confinement, Ward 209, to the general population in Evin Prison.Nusrat Tabasi is a member of Majzooban Nur, Nimatullahi Gonabadi Order website.

Copyright © 2009-2011 All Rights Reserved

Seven Gonabadi Dervishes Arrested in Front of Evin

HRANA News Agency – On Monday, September 19, 2011, seven members of Nimatullahi Gonabadi Sufi Sect were arrested when they answered to a call to attend a gathering in front of Evin Prison in order to protest against the killing of a citizen in the capital city of Kavar County, Fars Province, and the imprisonment of other dervishes.

According to a report by Majzooban Nur, Nimatullahi Gonabadi Order News Site, security forces and plain clothes agents who were present in front of Evin Prison arrested Arash Shaltoki, Nemat Kazemi, Taymour Homayouni, Ali Babaie, Ramin Ashkohe, Mehdi Rahmati and Davood Mehrdad.

All roads leading to and from Evin Prison were monitored closely by security agents since last night, and Special Forces Guards were stationed in front of this prison from early morning hours on Monday.Due to heavy presence of security agents, Nimatullahi Gonabadi Sufi Sect cancelled its call for the gathering.

Basiji Forces Opened Fire at Gonabadi Dervishes

HRANA News Agency – Sources related to Nimatullahi Gonabadi Sufi Sect have reported that a few hours ago, Basiji Militia opened fire at the members of this sect in the capital city of Kavar County, Fars Province.The shooting lasted almost an hour until Special Forces Unit dispatched from Shiraz put an end to it.

According to a report by Majzooban Nur, Nimatullahi Gonabadi Order News Site, clashes began when Basiji Militia shot tear gas canisters and also bullets at the members of Gonabadi Sufi Sect.Basiji agents then raided houses and set stores on fire.Following the outbreak of conflicts in the Kavar County, security forces installed closed-circuit cameras in assembly halls where religious ceremonies were held and prevented the members of Gonabadi Sufi Sect to enter the city of Kavar.

This report also explains the reason for the outbreak of violence in Kavar County:Apparently, when a young Muslim seminary student distributed pamphlets and CDs amongst Basiji forces and chanted “Death to American Dervish,” militia members were incited to act against Gonabadi Sufi Sect and set dervishes’ stores ablaze.

During today’s clashes, a number of individuals on both sides of the conflict were injured.Kavar County is now under tense military and security measures.

 

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