Arrest of 12 More Members of 'Erfan Halqeh' in Isfahan

The Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Isfahan has arrested 12 members of the 'Erfan Halqeh' group in the city. The Tasnim News Agency published a statement from the IRGC's Intelligence Organization on Thursday, August 3, announcing the continuation of a 'decisive confrontation with false mysticism and deviant movements.' The statement mentioned the arrest of 'one of the main leaders of the false Erfan Halqeh along with 11 members' of this group. The exact time and place of the arrests were not disclosed, but the IRGC stated that they had been monitoring the classes of this deviant group in Isfahan and acted in coordination with judicial authorities. According to the statement, 'a large number of important documents from the members of this misguided sect were discovered and seized' during the IRGC's operations. The military organization referred to 'Erfan Halqeh' as a group that causes 'ideological deviation' among individuals with false claims such as alternative healing, disease treatment, and healing powers. The statement also noted that 'the suggestions made by the deviant sect of Erfan Halqeh lead to increased psychological harm, weakening of religious beliefs, and the disintegration of some families.' Iranian officials have long opposed many activities of religious minorities and emerging mystic movements, imposing numerous restrictions on religious minorities and taking harsh actions against promoters of new mystic beliefs. This is not the first time that members and supporters of Erfan Halqeh have been arrested in Isfahan. Previously, on August 2, the IRGC's Intelligence Organization in Isfahan announced that eight members and supporters of what it called the 'deviant network of Erfan Halqeh' had been arrested in Shahinshahr. On July 18, the IRGC in Isfahan reported the arrest of '11 members and supporters of the deviant network of Erfan Halqeh in Najafabad.' These arrests occurred following a speech by Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, in Isfahan, during which some supporters of Mohammad Ali Taheri, the founder of the Erfan Halqeh school, held up his pictures. Mohammad Ali Taheri established an institute called 'Erfan Halqeh' in 2001, engaging in activities related to 'Iranian complementary medicine, alternative healing, 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 a letter to Ahmed Shaheed, the then-UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, stating that 'interrogators and investigators' had forced him into 'fabricated confessions' through 'pressure and psychological torture.' Meanwhile, Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabai, the lawyer for Mohammad Ali Taheri, reported last week in an interview with Radio Farda about the retrial of his client on charges of 'corruption on earth' and said he is awaiting the final verdict. Despite Mohammad Ali Taheri's imprisonment, a group of his supporters continues to engage in the activities of this group and has repeatedly held various protest gatherings in different cities of Iran against the continued detention and sentence of Taheri.