12 More Members of 'Erfan Halqeh' Arrested in Isfahan

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that 12 members of 'Erfan Halqeh' have been arrested in Isfahan. According to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the IRGC's Isfahan province reported on Friday, December 2, that intelligence forces of this organization arrested 'two of the main leaders of Erfan Halqeh' along with 10 members of this group. The IRGC's intelligence organization had previously reported the arrest of over 30 members of this group in Isfahan, Najafabad, and Shahinshahr last year. Several other supporters of Mohammad Ali Taheri, the founder of 'Erfan Halqeh', have been arrested in various cities across Iran in recent years. Supporters of Mr. Taheri have also held several protests in recent years against his arrest and sentence. Meanwhile, last year, three thousand of Mr. Taheri's 'students' protested in an open letter against 'pressure on the judges' of his case by 'security agencies'. Mohammad Ali Taheri established an institute named 'Erfan Halqeh' in 2001 and engaged in activities related to 'Iranian complementary medicine, meta-healing, and Scientology'. The issuance of a death sentence for Mohammad Ali Taheri sparked significant reactions both domestically and internationally. Ultimately, this sentence was overturned, and Mr. Taheri was sentenced to five years in prison last year. Previously, Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabai, Mr. Taheri's lawyer, announced that his client had established his institute in collaboration with Mr. Alipour and Brigadier General Joraksh, who were senior security officials in the police force and held the rank of brigadier. In this context, the collection of more than ten titles of books from the Tehran Book Fair, severe attacks by Friday prayer leaders and military officials against the dervishes, and the reasons to oppose the death sentence for Mohammad Ali Taheri are highlighted.