Urgent Call for Protest Against Iranian State Suppression of Gonabadi-Nimatullahi Sufis

CIP
March 15, 2008

http://www.islamicpluralism.org/397/urgent-call-for-protest-against-iranian-state-suppression

The Center for Islamic Pluralism calls on all its members and supporters to protest against Iranian state harassment of the Gonabadi-Nimatullahi Sufis.

CIP has received the following information on the situation:

For many years the Government of Iran has used every possible strategy to create crises by dividing the Iranian people on the pretext of beliefs, religion and regional culture. These actions are carried out in defiance of basic international human rights with respect to freedom of conscience and religion, and also violate Islamic law. Almost every day Iran's government denies its citizens' human rights. Such crimes have included attacks on mosques and Quranic schools affiliated with Sunni Muslims in Tehran, assaults and arrests in Sanandaj and other major cities, and demolition and arson attacks against Husseiniyat (Shia prayer houses) used by Sufis in Qom and Boroujerd.

Iranian security forces are once again preparing an attack and demolition of a Husseiniya, this time in the town of Karaj. The Husseiniya is the home of the Gonabadi-Nimatullahi Sufi teacher Yusuf Mardani. The repression of the Gonabadi-Nimatullahi Sufis is part of a growing anti-Sufi campaign in Iran.

CIP suggests sending the following e-mail statement to:

Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ottawa, Canada, at [email protected].

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, at [email protected]

We strenuously condemn ongoing state repression against Iranian Sufis and, at this time, call on the Iranian authorities to immediately cease any and all action against the Gonabadi Sufis in Karaj, their Husseiniya, and their teacher Yusuf Mardan.

receive the latest by email: subscribe to the free center for islamic pluralism mailing list