The NematollahiGonabadi Order, whose adherents are described as “dervishes,” is Iran’s largest Sufi order. Like most Iranian Muslims, their practitioners follow Shia Islam. As Sufis, their rituals include reading spiritual poetry and dancing. Dervishes preach pacifism and tolerance and believe that politics should be separated from religion. The Gonabadi Dervish community has seen a significant amount of persecution in the recent years, namely the house arrest of their spiritual leader, Dr. Nour Ali Tabandeh remains a great concern for this community.