October 28, 2008
Ms. Louise Arbour, High Commissioner for Human Rights
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des Nations
8 – 14 ave de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

 
Dear Ms. Arbour:

Human beings are members of a whole,
In creation of one essence and soul.
If one member is afflicted with pain,
Other members uneasy will remain.
If you have no sympathy for human pain,
The name of human you cannot retain

(Persian Poet, Saadi – at the entrance to the Hall of Nations of the UN building).

In continuation of systematic violation of human rights in Islamic Republic of Iran, campaign against the followers of Nematollahi- Gonabadi Sufi order is at the top of the agenda of the Iranian religious fundamentalist government to destroy Sufism and their houses of worship. The wave of assaults against peaceful and respected Sufi Muslim in Iran reached its peak when two of their Hosseinieh (place of gathering and prayer), in the Cities of Qom and Boroujerd, were demolished and burnt to the grounds by the security forces and government supporters in 2006 and 2007. The scale and violence of the crackdown on the Sufis were unprecedented. Security forces, without considering laws of the State and violating human rights, forcibly entered the houses, used excessive force to arrest Sufis, convicted them of wrong doing without any proof, imprisoned more than thousand, and even revoked the licenses of the defendants’ attorneys.

Demolishing Sufi houses; throwing Molotov *****tail to Sufi gatherings; hacking and filtering their web sites; threatening local media not to report the wave of violence against Nematollahi- Gonabadi Sufi order, directed by the Iranian homeland security; arresting and unlawfully detaining; creating fearful environment, because of their faith; house arresting Sufi Masters for organizing public prayers, just because some of these Masters have shaved their bears and not wearing the cloak (Aba outfit); prohibiting Sufis from Government and other organization’s hiring, because of their beliefs and tendency towards Sufism; are all clear examples of extreme violation of human rights in Iran. All these are in light of the Declaration of Human Rights that states “
“Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.”;

The Introductory, Preamble and Articles 13, 55 and 76 of the Charter of United Nations; and also the 1966 United Nation Agreements on Human Rights (i.e. Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights).

With the attention to the fact that the Government of Iran has signed and is obligated to the terms and conditions of the agreements of the United Nation Charter of Human Rights (1324); Covenants on Civil, Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1354); Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1334); UN Convention on Elimination of Racial Discrimination (1347); International Labour Organization Equality Convention No. 111 (1346); UNESCO Convention against Discrimination in Education (1346); but unfortunately is avoiding to implement these requirements even with regards to the peaceful followers of the Nematollahi- Gonabadi Sufi Muslims. Once again, the Islamic Republic Government of Iran is currently preparing to destroy another Hosseinieh in Karaj and make an attack on the Sufi Master residing there, through misuse of the laws of the Sate.

When the Government of Iran condemns the demolishing of Palestinians’ houses by the Israeli’s forces, but yet permits such action to take place at home is simply indication of manipulating and ridiculing the international community.

We are voicing our concerns and appealing to the international community, especially organizations such as the International Court of Justice, Amnesty International, and the Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights to take notice of this struggle to protect our most basic human rights, and realize the urgency of the situation of Nematollahi- Gonabadi Sufis, other minorities and people in Iran.

Sincerely Yours
Many Gonabadi Dervishes