Kasnazani Dervishes in Kurdistan

Sanandaj, Iran: During remembrance (dhikr) ceremony, a Kasnazani dervish, while in trance, has a skewer (decorated with religious symbols) driven through his chin. Kasnazani dervishes believe that body piercing with knives, skewers, drinking poison, eating glass or stone and unning electricity current through the body -- are all signs of being blessed by God. Kasnazanis are one of the main two branches of Qadiriyyah which is one of the oldest Sufi tariqas. It derives its name from Abdul Qadir Jilani (Gilani) (1077-1166), a native of the Iranian province of Gilan. In 1134 he was made principal of a Sunni Hanbalite school in Baghdad. The Order is the most widespread of the Sufi Orders in the Islamic world and can be found in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Turkey, the Balkans as well as much of the East and West Africa. (Photo by Kaveh Kazemi/Getty Images)