Whirling Dervishes originated from Mevlevi Order founded by Rumi's son Sultan Veled. Order spread to Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, and Palestine under Sultan Veled's leadership. Rumi's followers killed mystic Shams al-Din in 1247, leading to Sema ceremonies
Mevlevi Order founded in 1312 in Konya by Persian poet Rumi. Order expanded to 114 tekkes across Ottoman Empire. Sufi organizations became illegal after WWI, tekkes converted to mosques. Public Sema performances permitted in 1953