After the clashes in Golestan-e Haftom in February 2018, the government’s propaganda apparatus has started a defamation campaign against Gonabadi Dervishes. In this regard, Dervishes were compared with radical Islamists and ISIS criminals.

In addition, some businesses that allegedly belong to or are affiliated with Gonabadi Dervishes have been targeted by government hardliners. Mashreq News, a conservative news outlet, for instance, claimed that a private company producing dairy products is affiliated with Gonabadi Dervishes and called for a boycott of its merchandise.