Document #1170927
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
The following information was provided
during a 29 November 1996 telephone interview with a French
journalist who was posted in Iran between 1992 and 1996.
The source estimated that there are a few
thousand members of the Dervish sect in Iran. The source stated
that in Iran Dervish religious beliefs and membership is mainly
engrained in family tradition. The Dervishes have no legal status
in Iran as is the case for Christians and Jews. The Dervishes have
the right to practice their religious beliefs because they
represent a marginal phenomenon in Iran. The source, who personally
attended Dervish religious ceremonies while in Iran, added that the
Dervish are monitored by security forces but tolerated as long as
they do not interfere with the regime. For historical reasons
dating back to the pre-Shah era, members of the sect are suspicious
of their social environment. For example, although their religious
ceremonies are not secret, people who want to witness Dervish
religious practices must be invited by a member of the sect. The
source stated that the Iranian Dervish were enjoying a certain
popularity with important members of the Iranian intelligensia and
the regime apparatus.
Additional information on this subject is
available in the attached documents.
This Response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does
not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular
claim to refugee status or asylum.
Reference
French journalist posted in Iran, Paris,
France. 29 November 1996. Telephone interview.
Attachments
Agence France Presse (AFP). 15 June
1996. "12 Moslem Monks Hanged in Iran for Running Brothels."
(NEXIS)
The Independent [London] 15
November 1995. "Death by Stning." (NEXIS)
The Irish Times [Dublin] 1
November 1996. Brendan McWilliams. "Distinguishing the Dervishes"
(NEXIS)
Reuters. 14 November 1995."Iran Mystic
Stoned to Death for Adultery, Sodomy." (NEXIS)