28.05.2008 - Source: Amnesty International

Clashes between Sufis and Iranian forces in August and November 2007 ("Annual Report 2008") [ID 23484]

"In August and November, clashes involving Sufis resulted in scores of injuries and, in November, more than 100 arrests."

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Government repression and arrests of Sufis ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 23034]

"Sufi organizations outside the country previously expressed concern about government repression of their religious practices, and during the year there were arrests in Qom, a center of orthodox Shi'ism, after calls by Shi'a clerics for restrictions on local Sufis.

On May 21, security forces detained Sufi leader Nurali Tabandeh (also known as Majzub Ali Shah) of the Nematollah Gonabadi Sufi order in the northeastern city of Gonabad. Intelligence officials had reportedly warned Tabandeh earlier in the year to leave the city, but he refused. The Nematollah Gonabadi order was reportedly one of the largest Sufi groups in the country. In February 2006 authorities arrested 1,200 Sufi worshippers and closed a Sufi house of worship.

On May 4, 52 Sufis were sentenced to one year in prison, fines, and lashes (ultimately reduced to fines) in connection with the February 2006 incident. Their lawyers, Farshid Yadollahi and Omid Behrouzi, were also sentenced and banned from practicing law for five years.

On November 11, authorities arrested 180 Sufis in the western city of Boroujerd. Members of a Sufi lodge in Boroujerd reportedly attacked a nearby Shi'a mosque after clerics from that mosque called for their lodge to be shut down. Police entered the lodge to make arrests, and violent clashes between the Sufis and police ensued. Parts of the lodge were reportedly destroyed during the clashes. It was not clear what charges may have been brought against the 180 arrested or whether they remained in detention at year's end."

Document(s): Open document

16.11.2007 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Clashes on 11 November in Western city of Berujerd between security forces and followers of a mystic Sufi order; dozens injured; international human rights groups complain about "demonisation" of Sufi Muslims in Iran ("Iran: Clashes Highlight 'Demonization' Of Sufi Muslims") [ID 22054]

Document(s): Open document

12.11.2007 - Source: BBC News

Boroujerd: About 180 Sufi Muslims are held after attacking a Shia mosque in a row with a local cleric, say reports ("Iran police battle Sufi Muslims") [ID 21727]

Document(s): Open document

14.09.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Sufi Muslim population: Unofficial estimates between 2 and 5 million people practice Sufism ("International Religious Freedom Report 2007") [ID 21124]

"[...] There are no official statistics available on the size of the Sufi Muslim population; however, some reports estimate between two and five million people practice Sufism."

Document(s): Open document

14.09.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Increased harassment and intimidation of prominent Sufi leaders by the intelligence and security services ("International Religious Freedom Report 2007") [ID 21276]

"Sufis within the country and Sufi organizations outside the country remained extremely concerned about growing government repression of their communities and religious practices, including increased harassment and intimidation of prominent Sufi leaders by the intelligence and security services. Government restrictions on Sufi groups and houses of worship (husseiniya) became more pronounced in recent years."

Document(s): Open document

14.09.2007 - Source: US Department of State

On 21 May 2007 [sic!] security forces arrested Sufi leader Nurali Tabandeh; no reasons were given for his arrest ("International Religious Freedom Report 2007") [ID 21331]

"On May 21, 2007 [sic!], security forces arrested the leader of the Nematollahi Gonabadi Sufi order, Nurali Tabandeh. The reason for his arrest and whether formal charges have been brought against him were not known."

Document(s): Open document

14.09.2007 - Source: US Department of State

The February 2006 clashes in Qom: Demolishing of a husseinya; violence; arrests and convictions; anti-Sufi agitation, articles and books ("International Religious Freedom Report 2007") [ID 21332]

"On May 4, 2006, a court sentenced 52 Sufis to jail on various charges in connection with a February 14, 2006 incident, in which the Government reportedly arrested more than 1,200 Sufis for gathering illegally. The Government sentenced the defendants and their two lawyers to a year in prison, fines, and 74 lashes, which was later reduced to fines only. The Government also banned the lawyers, Farshid Yadollahi and Omid Behrouzi, from practicing law for 5 years.

Articles attacking Sufis are printed in government-controlled, national newspapers, such as Jomhouri-ye Eslami and Kayhan. On February 14, 2006, a Kayhan article quoted senior clerics in Qom as saying that Sufism should be eradicated in the city. Several anti-Sufi books were reportedly published in recent years.

On February 14, 2006, security forces demolished a husseiniya, as well as neighboring houses, and arrested more than 1,200 persons, according to several sources. Other sources close to the Sufi groups and human rights activists reported up to 2,000 arrests. The Government detained at least 173 people at Fajr prison and reportedly tortured them, to extract confessions that would be read on national television. Those released had to sign agreements saying they would not attend Sufi gatherings in Qom and would present themselves to intelligence offices. Reportedly, the Government required some to sign documents renouncing Sufism.

On February 13, 2006, the day preceding the February 14, 2006, incident, police officers tried to close a husseiniya in the city of Qom, sparking 2 days of clashes and violence. Qom officials stated the Sufis had illegally turned a residential building into a religious establishment. However, the establishment apparently had been built 3 years ago with municipal permission. According to some human rights groups, the Sufis, including many women and children, peacefully protested the order to leave the husseiniya. Police attacked the Sufis in the building with tear gas and explosives, causing more than 500 hospitalizations, according to some sources, and 100 injuries, according to the Qom Governor, General Abbas Mohtaj. Members of the Fatemiyon and Hojjatiyeh groups, conservative Islamic groups, reportedly joined the police in first taunting the protestors and then attacking and beating them.

In September 2005, Ayatollah Hossein Nouri-Hamedani, as Islamic scholar in Qom, reportedly called for a crackdown on Sufi groups, labeling them a "danger to Islam." Five months later an attack occurred that involved police and paramilitary forces. During the riots, the paramilitaries distributed leaflets calling Sufis enemies of Islam, and the Qom governor accused the Sufis of having ties to foreign countries and creating instability."

Document(s): Open document

01.2007 - Source: Human Rights Watch

No tolerance for peaceful protests and gathering: The example of a Sufi gathering in Qum in February 2006 ("World Report 2007") [ID 18992]

"The Ahmadinejad government, in a pronounced shift from the policy under former president Mohammed Khatami, has shown no tolerance for peaceful protests and gatherings. [...]

In February government forces attacked a peaceful gathering of Sufi devotees in front of their religious building in Qum to prevent its destruction by the authorities, using tear gas and water cannons to disperse them."

Document(s): Open document

15.09.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Harassment and discrimination against Sufis ("International Religious Freedom Report 2006") [ID 17643]

"Sufis within the country and Sufi organizations outside the country remained extremely concerned about growing government repression of Sufi communities and their religious practices, including the constant harassment and intimidation of prominent Sufi leaders by the intelligence and security services. Government restrictions on Sufi groups and houses of worship became more pronounced during the year covered by this report. Although laws governing Sufi practice were ambiguous, there are reports that the Government called for a full ban on the practice of Sufism. Since 1979, the numbers of practicing Sufis have soared, increasing tension with the Government."

Document(s): Open document

15.09.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Reports of government harassment and abuse of Sufis ("International Religious Freedom Report 2006") [ID 17774]

"Reports of government harassment and abuse of Sufis became prevalent during this reporting period due to the increasing intolerance towards the Sufi community from the Government.

On February 13, 2006, police officers tried to close a Sufi house of worship, or Husseinieh in the city of Qom, sparking two days of clashes and violence. Qom officials stated the Sufis had illegally turned a residential building into a religious establishment. However, the establishment apparently had been built three years ago with municipal permission. According to some human rights groups, the Sufis, including many women and children, were peacefully protesting the order to leave the Husseinieh. The police attacked the Sufis in the building with tear gas and explosives, causing over 500 hospitalizations according to some sources and 100 injuries according to the Qom Governor, General Abbas Mohtaj. Members of the Fatemiyon and Hojjatiyeh groups, conservative Islamic groups, reportedly joined the police in first taunting the protestors and then attacking and beating them.

On February 14, 2006, the security forces demolished the building and neighboring houses, and more than 1,000 persons were arrested, according to several sources. Other sources close to the Sufi groups and human rights activists reported 2000 arrests. At least 173 were detained at Fajr prison and were reportedly tortured in order to extract confessions that would be read on national television. Those who were released had to sign agreements saying they would not attend Sufi gatherings in Qom and would present themselves to intelligence offices. Some reportedly were required to sign documents renouncing Sufism.

On May 4, a court sentenced fifty-two Sufis to jail on various charges in connection with the February incident. The defendants and their two lawyers were sentenced to a year in prison, fines, and seventy-four lashes. The lawyers, Farshid Yadollahi and Omid Behrouzi, were also banned from practicing law for five years."

Document(s): Open document

15.09.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Forced religious conversion ("International Religious Freedom Report 2006") [ID 17780]

"[...] several Sufi Muslims reportedly had to sign forced renunciations of their faith to be released from prison following the February riots. [...]"

Document(s): Open document

15.09.2006 - Source: US Department of State

"Demonisation" campaign against Sufis ("International Religious Freedom Report 2006") [ID 17785]

"Sufi Muslims faced an increasing "demonization" campaign. In September 2005, Ayatollah Hossein Nouri-Hamedani, as Islamic scholar in Qom, reportedly called for a crackdown on Sufi groups, labeling them a "danger to Islam". Five months later an attack occurred that involved police and paramilitary forces. During the riots, the paramilitaries distributed leaflets calling Sufis enemies of Islam, and the Qom governor accused the Sufis of having ties to foreign countries and creating instability. Articles attacking Sufis were printed in government-controlled, national newspapers, such as the Jomhouri-ye Eslami and Kayhan. On February 14, 2006, a Kayhan article quoted senior clerics in Qom as saying that Sufism should be eradicated in the city. During the period covered by this report, several anti-Sufi books were published."

Document(s): Open document