Thousands of Students in Iran Protest Against the Exclusion of Gonabadi Dervishes from Education

According to reports, over three thousand students from universities in Iran have signed a statement protesting the exclusion of Gonabadi dervishes from education and emphasizing the right of religious and ethnic minorities to education. The statement highlights the right of all citizens of Iran 'regardless of any belief or opinion' to education and training, calling for the removal of the 'security perspective' from all sectors, including Gonabadi dervishes, and for the lifting of prohibitions on their education. Kasra Noori, an activist among the Gonabadi dervishes, stated that this statement is not addressed to any specific individual and is intended for the public. According to this statement, Mostafa Daneshju, a lawyer and defender of Gonabadi dervish rights, who has also spent time in Evin prison, was expelled from university and barred from continuing his graduate studies on May 30 by direct order from security agencies, as claimed by the signatories of the statement. According to the website 'Majzooban Noor', a news outlet for Gonabadi dervishes, Mostafa Daneshju's license to practice law was previously revoked following reports from security agencies while defending the rights of dervishes. Mostafa Daneshju was imprisoned between 2011 and 2015 for representing dervish cases and believing in the Gonabadi path. Fa'ezeh Abdi Pour, a political science student at Allameh Tabatabai University in Tehran and one of the campaign's designers, reported in an interview with the International Human Rights Campaign website that three thousand students have signed this statement. According to Ms. Abdi Pour, the exclusion of Gonabadi dervishes from education, teaching, and jobs is not a recent issue, as other dervishes, including Farshid Yadollahi and Amir Islami, have also been deprived of education due to their beliefs. She also stated that implementing the constitutional law regarding freedom of expression and belief and ensuring equal rights for all citizens is the responsibility of the President and the government, and 'they should not evade it.' Ms. Abdi Pour emphasized: 'We will certainly pursue our demands seriously through forming similar campaigns and legal and administrative correspondence.' Reports indicate that the destruction of Gonabadi dervish places of worship has intensified in Iran over the past 15 years, and several dervishes have been imprisoned and exiled in recent years. In recent days, Baha'i news sources have also reported the expulsion or non-issuance of diplomas for several Baha'i students at various universities in Iran. Islamic Republic officials do not recognize the Baha'i faith as a religion or belief and refer to it with terms such as 'deviant sect.' Over the past four decades, thousands of Baha'is have been expelled from Iranian universities and lost their jobs. Many Baha'is have also been imprisoned, executed, or forced to leave Iran.