2018 Dervish protests

2018 Dervish protests
Part of 2017–2018 Iranian protests
Date 4 February 2018 – 4 March 2018
(1 month)
Location Tehran, Iran
Caused by Possible arrest of Noor Ali Tabandeh
Several Dervishes arrested
Methods Demonstrations, riots
Status Protests Quelled
Parties to the civil conflict
Lead figures
Number
Hundreds
100+[1]
Casualties
Death(s) Up to 5 protesters[2]
5 security forces[3]
Injuries 170+ protesters[4]
30 security forces
Arrested 360[5]

The 2018 Dervish protests are a series of ongoing protests by the Iranian Dervishes, who are members of Sufi Islam, in Tehran, Iran. The protests started on 4 February,[6] and calmed down the next day. However, protests flared up again on 19 February, where 3 members of the security forces were killed after being run over by a bus.[7]

Background

The Gonabadi Dervishes are Sufi muslims; the Iranian government considers them a threat.[8] Conversion to Sufism is frowned upon by the Shi'a religious establishment.[9]

In January, at least 10 of the groups members were imprisoned in Fars province, and others may be held at Evin Prison in Tehran.[9]

Protests

On 19 February, the Sufis organized a sit-in protest at a police station, located in the Pasdaran district of Tehran, where one of their members was held. Later, clashes broke out between the Sufi protestors and security forces. Police used tear gas in an attempt to disperse the protesters. Five riot police were killed.[7]

According to the Iranian press, police arrested around 300 people, and there have been reports that some of the protesters may have been killed.[10] but the Sufis dervishes gathered around the home of their 90-year-old leader Noor Ali Tabandeh to protect him from arrest.[8]

In the aftermath of the 19 February, protests, footage emerged that showed several Sufi protestors who were arrested, being tortured by government forces.[7]

On 4 March, it was revealed that one of the protesters had died under the custody of the Iranian government.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "Six People Said Killed, 300 Arrests At Sufi Protest In Iran". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty.
  2. ↑ Witschge, Loes. "Iran's Gonabadi Dervishes: A 'long history' of persecution". www.aljazeera.com.
  3. ↑ Editorial, Reuters. "Five Iranian security officers killed at Sufi protest in Tehran".
  4. ↑ "'۱۷۰ نفر از دراویش گنابادی در بیمارستان بستری هستند'". 26 February 2018 – via www.bbc.com.
  5. ↑ https://www.isna.ir/news/96120200476/جزئیات-جلسه-کمیسیون-امنیت-ملی-درباره-حوادث-گلستان-هفتم-بازداشت
  6. ↑ Editor-M. "Iran: Dervishes Community Attacked by Security Forces". www.iranfocus.com.
  7. 1 2 3 "Iranian officers die in Sufi clashes". 20 February 2018 – via www.bbc.com.
  8. 1 2 "Five Iranian security officers killed at Sufi protest in Tehran". Reuters. 2018-02-20. Retrieved 2018-06-18.
  9. 1 2 "Gonabadi Dervish protest leaves 5 dead in Tehran". Retrieved 2018-06-18.
  10. ↑ Witschge, Loes. "Iran's Gonabadi Dervishes: A 'long history' of persecution". Retrieved 2018-06-18.
  11. ↑ خبر, Manoto News - اتاق. "اتاق خبر". اتاق خبر. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
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