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One Thousand Years in Prison and Six Thousand Lashes; '200' Sentences for Gonabadi Dervishes

Apr 25, 2026 April 25, 2026 2 min read 📰 Radio Farda
📋 Key Takeaway

201 Gonabadi dervishes have received harsh sentences including over a thousand years in prison and thousands of lashes following protests in Iran. The situation highlights ongoing human rights abuses and the crackdown on religious minorities in the country. This matter is significant as it reflects the Iranian government's repression of dissent and religious freedom.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: The Iranian government's crackdown on Gonabadi dervishes illustrates its intolerance for dissent.

👥 Key Players

Mohammad Salas (محمد سالاس) TARGET
Gonabadi dervish
"Mohammad Reza Salas, one of the Gonabadi dervishes, was accused... and was executed on June 18."
Zeynab Taheri (زینب طاهری) QUOTED
Lawyer
"Zeynab Taheri, Salas's lawyer, insisted that he was innocent."
Nour Ali Tabandeh (نورعلی تابنده) AFFECTED
Leader of Gonabadi dervishes
"Nour Ali Tabandeh, the leader of the Gonabadi dervishes, is under house arrest."
Mohammad Raji (محمد راجی) TARGET
Gonabadi dervish
"Mohammad Raji, another arrested Gonabadi dervish, died a few days after his arrest."
Iranian government ACTOR
Government of Iran
"the judicial authorities of the Islamic Republic claim he died due to injuries sustained during the clashes."

⚡ Actions

Iranian government SENTENCE 201 Gonabadi dervishes
"201 Gonabadi dervishes have been sentenced to 1080 years and two months in prison, 5995 lashes."
Confidence: 90%
Iranian government EXECUTE Mohammad Salas
"Mohammad Reza Salas, one of the Gonabadi dervishes, was accused... and was executed on June 18."
Confidence: 90%
Iranian authorities ARREST Mohammad Raji, Zeynab Taheri
"Zeynab Taheri, Salas's lawyer, insisted that he was innocent;... was arrested after announcing her intention to publish 'evidence of his innocence'."
Confidence: 80%

📰 What Happened

Iran sentences 201 Gonabadi dervishes to over 1000 years in prison and lashes after protests.

  • Iranian government sentence 201 Gonabadi dervishes
  • Iranian government execute Mohammad Salas
  • Iranian authorities arrest Mohammad Raji, Zeynab Taheri

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: Because the severe sentences reflect ongoing repression of religious minorities.
🌍 Regional: Because it highlights tensions between the Iranian government and minority groups.
🌐 International: Because it raises concerns about human rights violations in Iran.

📚 Background

The Iranian government's crackdown on Gonabadi dervishes illustrates its intolerance for dissent.

📝 Key Evidence

"the trial of hundreds of dervishes 'without access to a lawyer' and the extraction of 'forced confessions' has been reported."
→ This proves the lack of due process and human rights violations.
📡 Source: OPPOSITION
📊 Confidence: 80%
HRANA is known for reporting on human rights issues in Iran.

The news agency of human rights activists in Iran, HRANA, reported that 201 Gonabadi dervishes have been sentenced to 1080 years and two months in prison, 5995 lashes, 46 years of travel ban, 114 years of exile, and 72 years of deprivation from social activities. During the clashes last February in Pasdaran Street, about five hundred dervishes were arrested, and this website has published the names of 382 of them. The report also refers to the execution of Mohammad Salas and provides details of the sentences of 201 arrested dervishes. Additionally, it mentions 180 other dervishes whose case statuses are unknown. Previously, multiple reports had been published regarding heavy prison sentences, lashes, and exile for dervishes arrested during the events in Pasdaran Street. Mohammad Raji, another arrested Gonabadi dervish, died a few days after his arrest in Esfand last year. However, judicial authorities of the Islamic Republic claim he died due to injuries sustained during the clashes in Pasdaran Street. Mohammad Reza Salas, one of the Gonabadi dervishes, was accused by the court of running over three police officers with a bus and was executed on June 18. Zeynab Taheri, Salas's lawyer, insisted that he was innocent; Amnesty International also stated that his execution 'sacrifices justice.' After the execution of Mohammad Salas, his defense lawyer was arrested after announcing her intention to publish 'evidence of his innocence' but was released after some time. Following the clashes in Pasdaran Street, Nour Ali Tabandeh, the leader of the Gonabadi dervishes, is under house arrest. Meanwhile, last week, several Gonabadi dervishes submitted a declaration to the heads of the three branches of government and other officials of the Islamic Republic demanding accountability regarding the house arrest of Mr. Tabandeh. In this context, the trial of hundreds of dervishes 'without access to a lawyer' and the extraction of 'forced confessions' has been reported. The United States condemned the execution of Mohammad Salas and called for an end to the hunger strike of imprisoned dervishes. The U.S. also criticized the violation of religious minorities' rights in Iran. Five Gonabadi dervishes were sentenced in absentia to more than 12 years in prison. The severe government crackdown poses a risk of protests becoming 'underground.'

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Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 85%

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