Concerns over rights violations of detained dervishes as trial begins
As the trial of a number of arrested dervishes began and the charges against a number of female dervishes were explained, some cyberspace users expressed concern about the condition of these detainees.
Musa Ghazanfarabadi, head of Tehran's Revolutionary Court, announced that the cases of about 70 Gonabadi dervishes have been sent to branches 15 and 26 of the Revolutionary Court. He said that the charges against these individuals are security-related.
Meanwhile, news published on social media indicates that the Gonabadi dervishes have been detained for about three months, have been deprived of a lawyer, and have not been treated properly in detention after being beaten and injured by officers during their arrest.
The charges against these individuals, who were sent to court without a lawyer, include disturbing public order, gathering, collusion against public safety, and disobeying police orders.
One user also wrote that in the indictment issued against the Gonabadi dervishes, the prosecutor called for the harshest punishment, exile, and imprisonment of the dervishes in prisons in cities far from where the dervishes operate.
On the other hand, a hearing to explain the charges against a number of female dervishes was held on Monday, May 14. These detainees are being held in quarantine in Qarchak Prison in Varamin, and their families have not been allowed to deliver clothing, medical and hygiene items to them.
Reports indicate that the health condition of some female prisoners, including Shokofeh Yadallahi, was critical.
In addition to Ms. Yadollahi, who suffered a broken head and ribs during her arrest, several other women who were arrested during the Dervish protest late last year are also in critical condition.
According to the report, security officials have so far refused to release him or provide him with proper treatment.
Human rights activists have warned in recent weeks about a serious threat to Ms. Yadollahi's life.
Last month, Amnesty International expressed concern about the situation of female dervishes and called on the Islamic Republic of Iran to release them unconditionally.
On the last day of February last year, a gathering of Gonabadi dervishes in front of the police station on Pasdaran Street in Tehran to protest the arrest of an elderly dervish turned violent with the intervention of a special police unit and plainclothes forces.
In these clashes, which lasted about two days, hundreds of Gonabadi dervishes were arrested, many of whom were severely beaten and injured.
Following these incidents, a spokesperson for the US State Department announced in a statement that the US government has received disturbing reports of the Iranian regime's ongoing violent repression of Gonabadi Dervishes across the country, in which hundreds have been arrested and some have been hospitalized.
The United States Department of State called on the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to respect the rights of its citizens and release all unjustly imprisoned prisoners of conscience.
