11 Members and Supporters of 'Erfan Halqe' Arrested in Najafabad, Isfahan

The IRGC branch in Isfahan province announced on Tuesday, July 18, that '11 members and supporters of the deviant network Erfan Halqe in Najafabad' have been arrested. According to Tasnim News Agency, the intelligence department of the IRGC's Imam Zaman Corps stated in a notice that this group was apprehended by the 'unknown soldiers of Imam Zaman' and that the instructor of the 'deviant network Erfan Halqe' was arrested and 'the head of the network was completely dismantled.' These arrests occurred about two months after supporters of Mohammad Ali Taheri, the founder of the Erfan Halqe school, held up his pictures during a speech by President Hassan Rouhani in Isfahan, which took place before the presidential elections. Supporters of Mr. Taheri have protested multiple times in recent years against his detention in Tehran and several other cities. The notice from the intelligence department of the IRGC's Imam Zaman Corps also stated that the IRGC's intelligence organization has 'made it a priority to combat the promoters and activists of false and emerging mysticism.' The IRGC accused Erfan Halqe of 'ideological deviation' of the youth and individuals in society, adding that 'protecting the rich culture of Islamic Iran is part of the IRGC's inherent mission,' and therefore 'any creation of deviation in this area is monitored and overseen.' Mohammad Ali Taheri established an institute called 'Erfan Halqe' in 2001, which engaged in activities related to 'Iranian complementary medicine, transcendental therapy, and Scientology.' He was arrested in 2011, and the initial sentence issued against him was 'death.' In 2016, his death sentence was overturned by the Supreme Court and the case was referred back to the Revolutionary Court for re-examination. In July 2014, Mr. Taheri wrote in a letter to Ahmed Shaheed, the then-UN special rapporteur on human rights in Iran, that 'interrogators and investigators' forced him into 'false confessions' through 'psychological pressure and torture.' Meanwhile, Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabai, Mr. Taheri's defense lawyer, reported last week in an interview with Radio Farda about the retrial of his client on charges of 'spreading corruption on earth' and stated that he is awaiting the final verdict. In this context, Amnesty International reported on July 4 about the possibility of a new death sentence for Mohammad Ali Taheri and urged Iranian authorities to unconditionally release this political prisoner. Amnesty International, based in London, called for 'impartial and independent investigations' into the situation of Mohammad Ali Taheri. In addition to Mohammad Ali Taheri, several of his supporters and members of the Erfan Halqe school have been arrested and imprisoned in recent years. For instance, the Mashregh website reported on July 7 that 27 supporters of Mohammad Ali Taheri were arrested in Mashhad. Mashregh quoted the deputy head of the Revolutionary Prosecutor's Office in Mashhad, noting that several supporters of the Erfan Halqe have been arrested in recent months, stating that 25 members of this group who were in training were released after a case was formed.