Mohammad Ali Taheri

Mohammad Ali Taheri was born in 1956 in Kermanshah, Iran and received his primary education from his hometown.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/fa-ir/%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%B7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AD%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%84-%D8%AA%D8%A7-%D8%B9%D8%B1%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%86-%DA%A9%DB%8C%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C-%D9%BE%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%87-%DB%8C%DA%A9-%D8%AD%DA%A9%D9%85-%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%85/a-40275543|title=از طراحی مسلسل تا "عرفان کیهانی"؛ پرونده یک حکم اعدام | DW | 28.08.2017|website=DW.COM}} Later, they moved to Tehran for better opportunities.

Later, he went to Turkey where he studied briefly at the Middle East Technical University but did not get any degree.{{Cite web |last=Harrer |first=Gudrun |date=2017-09-12 |title=Mohammed Ali Taheri: Ein Esoteriker, der im falschen Land zugange ist |trans-title=Mohammed Ali Taheri: An esoteric who works in the wrong country |url=https://www.derstandard.de/story/2000063971778/mohammed-ali-taheri-ein-esoteriker-der-im-falschen-land-zugange |access-date=2021-05-06 |website=Der Standard |language=German}}

Upon his return to Iran, he founded an engineering firm, Tiva Kian Engineering and Design Company, and designed small machines for use in mushroom production and flour factories.

File:Erfan Halqeh logo.png

According to Taheri, he has never followed any specific Sufi path or particular religion.{{sfn |Eftekhar|2015|pp=2–5}} He used to find answers to his questions through books and documents.{{sfn |Eftekhar|2015|pp=2–5}} He also used to meditate deeply.{{sfn |Eftekhar|2015|pp=2–5}}

During his self-study of cosmology, he began to believe that science and spirituality can converge in a single quest.{{Cite web |last=Costantini |first=Gianluca |date=2017-12-30 |title=L'uomo delle stelle Taheri attende il boia in un carcere d'Iran |trans-title=The man of the stars Taheri awaits the executioner in an Iranian prison |url=https://test.eastwest.eu/store/it/cultura/graphic-journalism/iran-taheri-condanna-a-morte |url-access=subscription |access-date=2021-05-01 |website=EastWest.eu |language=Italian}} Therefore, found two ways to healing exclusively based on a path of self-understanding Faradarmani and Psymentology.

As his quest for knowledge and desire to find truth of life intensified, Taheri started receiving intuitions which he used to explore and reflect upon.{{sfn |Eftekhar|2015|pp=2–5}} After receiving intuitions, Taheri started to rationalize these in the first decade.{{sfn |Eftekhar|2015|pp=2–5}} Afterwards, he started the work to test the intuitions he received.{{sfn |Eftekhar|2015|pp=2–5}} Based on work and testing, he started teaching about his knowledge to his friends and family in private.{{sfn |Eftekhar|2015|pp=2–5}} To cure different types of diseases, Taheri introduced a new healing method which was later called Faradarmani.{{sfn |Eftekhar|2015|pp=2–5}}

According to Taheri, Erfan-e-Halgheh reveals mysteries of the Quran and of the Persian poetry written by legendary poets such as Mowlana and Hafez.{{sfn |Eftekhar|2015|pp=2–5}}

In the 2000s, he founded Erfan-e-Halgheh (Circle of Mysticism), an arts and culture institute located in Tehran, which promotes healing concepts.{{Cite web|url=https://www.shaheedoniran.org/english/dr-shaheeds-work/un-expert-calls-for-an-immediate-moratorium-after-iran-hands-down-death-penalty-to-a-prisoner-of-conscience/|title=Ahmed Shaheed » UN expert calls for an immediate moratorium after Iran hands down death penalty to a prisoner of conscience}} It is part of Inter-universal Mysticism, a spiritual movement or school of thought, which he started about forty years ago to promote mental wellness and physical health.{{Cite web |date=June 25, 2018 |title=Sink or swim: finding asylum in Australia |url=https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/earshot/sink-or-swim:-finding-asylum-in-australia/9906376 |website=ABC Radio National}} The movement became wildly popular in urban centers of Iran.{{sfn |Anzali|2017|pp=5–6}} At its peak, the movement had more than two million followers.

Erfan-e-Halgheh movement promotes self-help style therapeutic spirituality and understanding of the universe.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/28/world/middleeast/mohammad-ali-taheri-iran-death-sentence-mystic-healer-shiite-mystic.html|title=Iran Sentences Faith Healing Shiite Mystic to Death|first=Thomas|last=Erdbrink|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 28, 2017}}{{Cite web|url=https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/mystics-and-interlopers/|title=Los Angeles Review of Books|date=September 26, 2018|website=Los Angeles Review of Books}} It is particularly influential among the educated Iranians and its seminars and clinics are spread across Iran and in California.

Based on his work and research, Taheri initially started teaching about his knowledge to his friends and family in private.{{sfn |Eftekhar|2015|pp=2–5}} Later, after developing Erfan-e-Halgheh, he publicized his knowledge by teaching it with structured lessons.{{sfn |Eftekhar|2015|pp=2–5}} Initially, classes were small with few students.{{sfn |Eftekhar|2015|pp=2–5}} In 2001, classes were transferred to the official institution and later at University of Tehran, a top-ranked university in Iran.{{sfn |Eftekhar|2015|pp=2–5}} Meanwhile, Taheri was also giving interviews to further dissipate his knowledge.{{sfn |Eftekhar|2015|pp=2–5}}

In the start, Erfan-e-Halgheh was designed by him to be studied in six levels, but later two more levels were added to teach the subject in detail.{{sfn |Eftekhar|2015|pp=2–5}} Each level lasted six weeks with one four-hour each week.{{sfn |Eftekhar|2015|pp=2–5}} In level one, students were taught about Faradarmani which is used to heal different diseases and its purpose is to get acquaintance with divine intelligence in practical form.{{sfn |Eftekhar|2015|pp=2–5}} In Erfan-e-Halgheh, it is a first step on the spiritual development path.{{sfn |Eftekhar|2015|pp=2–5}}

Later, Taheri also started to teach Faradarmani and Psymentology at the institute he founded in 2006. Classes overwhelmed by students were held where everything was videotaped. He also wrote manuals and guides which were released with the official license of the Iranian Government. They won dozens of awards and acknowledgments in their field.

He has also taught alternative medicine and alternative therapies at the University of Tehran.{{Cite web|url=https://editorials.voa.gov/a/spiritual-leader-sentenced-to-death-in-iran/4021256.html|title=Spiritual Leader Sentenced to Death in Iran|website=VOA}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.iranhumanrights.org/2016/05/mohammad-ali-taheri-7/|title=Imprisoned Spiritual Leader Slapped with New Charges Upon Completing Sentence|date=May 16, 2016}}

In 2010, he has to stop his teachings, when his popularity was at the peak, due to his arrest by the government.{{Cite web|url=https://en.iranwire.com/features/6743/|title=Death Sentence for Spiritual Leader Reveals Cracks in Iran's Power Base|date=September 10, 2015|website=IranWire|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910103259/https://en.iranwire.com/features/6743/|archive-date=2015-09-10}}

In 2009, a group linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) alarmed by his rising popularity and called it a threat to the national security. Classes filled with thousand of students were not considered safe.

A dissident spiritualist, Taheri was arrested by the Revolutionary Guards Intelligence Service in 2010 on charges of acting against national security.{{Cite web|url=https://thediplomat.com/2018/09/irans-careful-approach-to-chinas-uyghur-crackdown/|title=Iran's Careful Approach to China's Uyghur Crackdown|first=Samuel|last=Ramani|website=thediplomat.com}} He was held in solitary confinement for 67 days. Before his arrest, he was free to deliver public lectures held at the Tehran University and publish books without any restrictions.

In 2011, he was again arrested on the charges of Moharebeh (enmity against god). Many of his followers around the city of Isfahan were also detained.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/us-concerned-death-sentence-iran-spiritual-leader-taheri/28711455.html|title=U.S. 'Deeply Concerned' By Death Sentence Against Iranian Spiritual Leader|website=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty}} Later, on May 4, 2011, he was sentenced on charges of “founding a religious cult”.{{Cite web|url=http://www.iranhumanrights.org/2015/07/mohammad-ali-taheri-3/|title=Imprisoned Founder of Spiritual Group Awaits Clarification on His Sentence |date=July 17, 2015 |website=Center for Human Rights in Iran}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.uscirf.gov/news-room/releases-statements/uscirf-vice-chair-gayle-manchin-calls-immediate-release-iranian|title = USCIRF Vice Chair Gayle Manchin Calls for Immediate Release of Iranian Prisoner of Conscience Mohammad Ali Taheri | USCIRF|date = 10 January 2022}}

Taheri was interrogated again in the summer of 2014 on charges of corruption on earth, and was eventually sentenced to death in court in May 2015. The UN high commissioner for Human Rights called this death sentence an “absolute outrage”.{{cite web |title=UN News 2015 |url=https://news.un.org/en/tags/mohammad-ali-taheri|website=UN News |accessdate=5 August 2015}}{{cite web |title=Mohammad Ali Taheri |url=https://www.dw.com/fa-ir/iran/a-47128582 |website=Deutsche Welle |accessdate=21 February 2020}} His sentence was annulled later the same year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/report/custom/7d7b9f3a2d/|title=7d7b9f3a2d}}

He was due to be released on February 7, 2016, after serving a full five-year sentence and paying the fine, but was prevented from being released on new charges being brought.

In August 2017, Islamic Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Ahmadzadeh, convicted Taheri on charges of corruption on earth; this conviction was overturned by Branch 33 of the Supreme Court for the second time.{{Cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2017-report-on-international-religious-freedom/iran/|title=Iran}} In September 2017, this second sentence and related arrests of his followers was condemned by the US Department of State spokesperson Heather Nauert. Nauert said that the alleged charges are against Iran's commitment to human rights and urged Iranian authorities to reverse the conviction and death sentence.{{cite web |title=USEmbasy Iran |url=https://ir.usembassy.gov/statement-sentencing-mohammad-ali-taheri-death-iran/|website=US virtual embassy Iran |accessdate=1 September 2017}}

In August 2018, he was charged with corruption on earth for the third time by Judge Abolqasim Salavati in Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court on a charge of five years' imprisonment; this charge should have been re-examined by the appeals court, but this never took place.

In September 2018, Taheri was charged again with apostasy. In a letter to Ahmad Shahid, a former UN human rights rapporteur for Iran, Taheri reported that he had been forced to fabricate confessions through psychological pressure and torture by IRGC interrogators.{{cite web |last1=The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom |title=Mohammad Ali Taheri (Released – House Arrest) |url=https://www.uscirf.gov/mohammad-ali-taheri-released-house-arrest |accessdate=21 February 2020}}{{cite web |title=Canada should welcome Intrauniversalism founder Mohammad Ali Taheri on humanitarian grounds |url=https://www.straight.com/news/1286596/canada-should-welcome-intrauniversalism-founder-mohammad-ali-taheri-humanitarian |website=The Georgia Straight|date=18 August 2019 }}

In October 2018, Vice-Chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, Gayle Conelly Manchin, adopted Mohammad Ali Taheri as a religious prisoner of conscience which is part of USCIRF's Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uscirf.gov/news-room/releases-statements/vice-chair-manchin-adopts-two-religious-prisoners-conscience|title = Vice Chair Manchin Adopts Two Religious Prisoners of Conscience | USCIRF|date = 10 January 2022}}

In 2012, his mother left Iran and moved to Canada to start a campaign for the release of Taheri with help of human rights activists.{{Cite web|url=https://www.amnesty.ca/blog/%E2%80%9Ci-will-never-stop%E2%80%9D-%E2%80%93-mother%E2%80%99s-campaign-free-her-son-iran|title= "I will never stop" – a mother's campaign to free her son in Iran|date=May 9, 2016|website=Amnesty International Canada}}

In August 2015, sit-ins were held by Taheri's students in Tehran and Qom and demanded to overturn his death sentence.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/fa-ir/%D8%A8%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%AF%DA%AF%D8%B0%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%85%DA%A9%D8%AA%D8%A8-%D8%B9%D8%B1%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%82%D9%87-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%B2%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D8%BA%D8%B0%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%AA%D8%B1-%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%87-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA/a-18664322|title=بنیادگذار مکتب "عرفان حلقه" در زندان اعتصاب غذای تر کرده است | DW | 21.08.2015|website=DW.COM}} Protests were also held in twenty cities around the world, including Edmonton, calling for his release from the prison.{{Cite web|url=https://edmontonsun.com/2015/08/16/edmontonians-protest-death-sentence-of-iranian-mystic-mohammad-ali-taheri|title=Edmontonians protest death sentence of Iranian mystic Mohammad Ali Taheri|website=edmontonsun}}

In October 2016, more than thirty thousand people in Canada demanded the release of Mohammad Ali Taheri through petitions and mailboxes.{{cite web |title=Mohammad Ali Taheri Amnesty |url=https://www.amnesty.ca/blog/path-freedom-mohammad-ali-taheri |website=Amnesty International Canada |accessdate=21 October 2016}}

United Nation Human Rights condemned Taheri's imprisonment many times in its reports during his arrest period.{{cite web |title=UN Reports |url=https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TmSearch/SearchCode?code=IRN%2028/2014;%20IRN%204/2014;%20IRN%2013/2013;%20IRN%2011/2013 |website=UN Human Rights}}

Taheri, in a letter to the Iranian president on January 13, 2019, called for the removal of his Iranian citizenship in protest against injustice.

In April 2019, he was released after seven and a half years of his last arrest.Radio Farda [https://www.radiofarda.com/a/29885756.html5/ Radio Farda] After his release, he left Iran and sought and was subsequently granted asylum in Canada on March 8, 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uscirf.gov/news-room/releases-statements/uscirf-religious-prisoner-conscience-mr-mohammed-ali-taheri-granted|title=USCIRF Religious Prisoner of Conscience Mr. Mohammed Ali Taheri Granted Asylum in Canada | USCIRF|date=10 January 2022}}

Taheri is married and the couple has two children.{{Cite web|url=https://www.igfm.de/mohammad-taheri/|title=Frei: Mohammad Taheri}} Taheri' mother, Ezat Taheri, and sister, Azardokht Taheri, are based in Canada.

Taheri has received dozen of awards and honors.In March 2011, he received honorary doctorate degree from the president of the University of Traditional Medicine of Armenia for founding, the Iranian complementary medicine, Faradarmani.{{Cite web|date=2011-04-26 |url=http://www.ebtekarnews.com/Ebtekar/News.aspx?NID=80702|title=طب‌هاي مكمل ايراني مبتني بر پايه‌هاي محكم علمي است|trans-title= Iranian complementary medicine is based on solid scientific foundations |website=Ebtekar |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110427084011/http://www.ebtekarnews.com/Ebtekar/News.aspx?NID=80702|archive-date = 2011-04-27|language=Persian}}

He has also received gold medals and certificates by alternative medicine institutes from Belgium, Romania, Russia, and South Korea for his work and research.{{Self-published inline|certain=y|date=January 2025}}

Taheri has written dozens of books and more than twenty-five articles on his research work.{{sfn |Eftekhar|2015|p=12}} Several of them were published in Iran with permission from the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Iran.{{sfn |Eftekhar|2015|p=12}}{{Cite web|url=https://en.radiofarda.com/a/iran-mystic-leader-taheri-death-penalty/28914375.html|title=Death Penalty Rejected For Iranian Mystic Leader - Retrial|website=RFE/RL}} Some of his books have also been published in Armenia.{{sfn |Eftekhar|2015|p=12}}

His books are widely read in Iran.{{sfn |Doostdar |2018 |p= 146}} For example, his book, Ensan az Manzari Digar (Human from Another Outlook), which is considered the founding text of Erfan-e-Halgheh, became a best-seller in Iran and went into eight imprints, a total of 90,000 prints between 2007 and 2009.{{sfn |Doostdar |2018 |p= 146}}

• Taheri, Mohammad Ali (2006). Cosmic mysticism (ring) (in Persian){{Cite web|url=http://opac.nlai.ir/opac-prod/bibliographic/1042889|title=عرفان کیهانی حلقه|trans-title=Cosmic mysticism (ring)|website=opac.nlai.ir|language=Persian}}
• Taheri, Mohammad Ali (2007). Man, from another perspective (in Persian){{Cite web|url=http://opac.nlai.ir/opac-prod/search/briefListSearch.do?command=FULL_VIEW&id=2080388&pageStatus=0&sortKeyValue1=sortkey_title&sortKeyValue2=sortkey_author|title=انسان، از منظری دیگر|trans-title=Man, from another perspective|website=opac.nlai.ir|language=Persian}}
• Taheri, Mohammad Ali (2010). The relationship between ethics and mysticism (in Persian){{Cite web|url=http://opac.nlai.ir/opac-prod/search/briefListSearch.do?command=FULL_VIEW&id=1982231&pageStatus=0&sortKeyValue1=sortkey_title&sortKeyValue2=sortkey_author|title=ارتباط اخلاق و عرفان|trans-title=The relationship between ethics and mysticism|website=opac.nlai.ir|language=Persian}}
• Taheri, Mohammad Ali (2011). Man and knowledge (in Persian){{Cite web|url=http://opac.nlai.ir/opac-prod/search/briefListSearch.do?command=FULL_VIEW&id=2264111&pageStatus=0&sortKeyValue1=sortkey_title&sortKeyValue2=sortkey_author|title=انسان و معرفت|trans-title=Man and knowledge|website=opac.nlai.ir|language=Persian}}
• {{cite book|last=Taheri|first=Mohammad Ali |year=2011 |title=Erfan Keyhani (Halgheh) (Persian edition): Second Edition |isbn=9781466304055}}
• {{cite book|last=Taheri|first=Mohammad Ali |year=2011 |title=Human from another outlook |publisher=Interuniversal Press |isbn=9781939507006}}
• {{cite book|last=Taheri|first=Mohammad Ali |year=2011 |title=Human Insight |publisher=Create Space |isbn=9781466234420|edition=Persian }}
• {{cite book|last=Taheri|first=Mohammad Ali |year=2011 |title=Nonorganic Viruses |isbn=9781466240377|edition=Persian }}
• {{cite book|last=Taheri|first=Mohammad Ali |year=2013 |title=Halqeh Mysticism (Inter-universal Mysticism, Vol. 1)|isbn=9781939507105}}
• {{cite book|last=Taheri|first=Mohammad Ali |year=2013 |title=Human Worldview |publisher=Interuniversal Press |isbn=9781939507112}}
• {{cite book|last=Taheri|first=Mohammad Ali |year=2013 |title=Non-organic beings|publisher=Interuniversal Press |isbn=9781939507129}}
• {{cite book|last=Taheri|first=Mohammad Ali |year=2013 |title=Psymentology (Volume 1)|isbn=9781939507136|edition=Persian }}

Taheri has taught in universities across the globe. He taught his methods in Tehran university, his theories have been published in scientific journals. His students have published in scientific journals worldwide.

His research has been published in NIH.

Here is an example: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10300500/

His critics are mostly agents of Islamic Republic of Iran. His teachings opened the limits of religion and created intersectionality with other religions that the government feared.

His methods and teachings are grounded in oneness. He says that humans take actions in two ways one towards oneness and one towards separation.

His goal and teaching bring us to the realization, and understanding of oneness with all other religions.

Please read his articles before writing baseless accusations about him.

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book |last=Eftekhar |first=Tina |date=2015 |title=The birth of a celestial light: a feminist evaluation of an Iranian spiritual movement inter-universal mysticism |publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing |location=Newcastle upon Tyne, UK |page= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LfmmBgAAQBAJ |isbn=9781443870481}}
• {{cite book |last= Anzali |first=Ata |date=2017 |title=Mysticism in Iran: The Safavid Roots of a Modern Concept (Studies in Comparative Religion) |publisher=University of South Carolina Press |page= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=57Q1DwAAQBAJ |isbn=9781611178081}}
• {{cite book |last= Doostdar |first=Alireza |date=2018 |title=The Iranian Metaphysicals: Explorations in Science, Islam, and the Uncanny |publisher=Princeton University Press |page= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=imuYDwAAQBAJ |isbn=9780691163789}}

{{List of political prisoners of Iran}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Taheri, Mohammad Ali}}

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