Asharq Al-Awsat, 21 February, 2018— Hundreds of the Sufi Gonabadi protestors were detained overnight in northern Tehran a day after fierce confrontations erupted between Iranian security officials and members of the order,

The developments took place after Iranian authorities cracked down on anti- government and regime protests that swept the country in late 2017.

The Sufis had organized several sporadic sit-ins near the home of Nurali Tabandeh, 90, because they are worried that he could be detained by police.

Tabandeh served for a brief period as a deputy at both the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance before deciding to head the Gonabadi order.

According to Reuters, some Sufis were shouting they would not tolerate his possible arrest.

The Iranian religious leadership is wary of the Sufi order because it opposes the country’s Wilayet al-Faqih ideology.

The clashes drove conflicting reactions in Iran. Spokesman for the Iranian Parliament’s Presiding Board Behrouz Nemati said the parliament supports steps taken by security officials against the protesters, warning members of the order against inciting chaos.

Majzooban, a website linked to the Sufis, said some protesters were shot by the police.