Judicial Sentences Issued for 258 Gonabadi Dervishes

Simultaneously with reports of a 69-year prison sentence for 10 Gonabadi dervishes, the Tehran prosecutor announced the issuance of sentences for 258 dervishes, without providing details. According to the IRNA news agency, Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi reported on Tuesday, July 16, that sentences were issued for 258 individuals he referred to as 'agents of the riots' from last Esfand (February) year. Meanwhile, the Majzuban Noor website reported that 10 imprisoned dervishes in Tehran's Great Prison were sentenced to 69 years in prison, 444 lashes, and 14 years of exile. This website had previously reported that 46 Gonabadi dervishes were sentenced to a total of 171 years in prison. Earlier, Faezah Abdi-Pour, an activist among the dervishes, tweeted that 'for 23 Gonabadi dervishes, a total of 119 years of imprisonment and exile and lashes' were issued. The common charges against several dervishes include 'conspiracy against security,' 'action against national security,' 'disturbance of public order,' and 'disobedience to police orders.' Some Gonabadi dervishes have also been tried in Tehran's Criminal Court 2, where their charges were announced as 'disturbance of public order and community comfort.' A comparison of the charges against Gonabadi dervishes shows that those whose cases are being handled in the Revolutionary Court face heavier charges. Previously, the International Federation for Human Rights, on May 15, referred to the trial of detained dervishes accompanied by 'concealment' and called this action a 'mockery of justice' and a 'clear violation of international standards.' The protest gathering of Gonabadi dervishes on February 19, 2018, around the house of Noor Ali Tabandeh, the leader of this order, turned violent due to the intervention of security forces and motorcyclist plainclothes agents. According to reports, 500 dervishes were arrested during these clashes, of which 360 are still imprisoned. Mohammad Reza Thalath, one of the Gonabadi dervishes accused by the court of having run over three police officers with a bus, was executed on Monday morning, June 17. Mr. Thalath's lawyer emphasized his innocence, and Amnesty International stated that his execution 'sacrifices justice.' Several Gonabadi dervishes are on hunger strike. Meanwhile, Marjan Mohajer, the wife of Zafar Ali Moqimi, one of the imprisoned dervishes on hunger strike, expressed concern about his physical condition in an interview with Radio Farda.