A second day of protest by Gonabadi dervishes in front of the Tehran Prosecutor’s office was met violently by security forces, who attacked and arrested a number of protesters.
The Majzooban-e Noor website reports that riot police used batons and tear gas, and some of dervishes sustained serious injuries such as broken bones.
The report indicates that riot police fenced off hundreds of men and women near the prosecutor’s office.
The dervishes have gathered in Tehran as part of a campaign to bring them from across the country to protest against the treatment of their peers in jail.
Majzooban-e Noor reported earlier that more than 800 dervishes were held overnight. A rallying call was sent out to organize another protest for this morning at 9 AM.
The jailed Gonabadi dervishes in Evin and Nezam Prisons have been on hunger strike for nearly a month to protest the violation of their rights as prisoners and their mistreatment by prison authorities.
