Basij, The Oppressive Arm Of The Iranian Regime 

Iranian Basij paramilitary forces attend a rally marking the 35th anniversary of establishment of the force, at Felestin (Palestine) square in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2014

Iranian Basij paramilitary forces attend a rally marking the 35th anniversary of establishment of the force, at Felestin (Palestine) square in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2014

Shortly after the 1979 revolution, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of Iran’s Islamic Republic, gave a speech to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and emphasized that the country needed a 20 million-strong army to be able to defend itself against its enemies, particularly the United States.

Iranian sources consider that date the official establishment of the Basij (the name means mobilization). However, the related law was only passed in June 1980.​

Basij Logo

Basij Logo

​It states that the purpose of the Basij is "to train and organize all volunteers for encountering any threat and invasion against the accomplishments of the Islamic revolution from inside and outside.”

​The law also places the Basij organization under the control of the supreme leader; however, in practice, it has always been supervised by the IRGC.

When Iraq under Saddam Hussein invaded Iran in September 1980, the ayatollahs faced a challenge in defending the country. They had weakened the country’s military by executing or imprisoning many high-ranking military officers, allegedly for being loyal to the previous regime or being involved in suppressing the revolutionaries.

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Archive Footage of Basij Day 1984 AP

Under such circumstances, the Basij started to recruit millions of volunteers for the war. Without the contribution of the so-called Basijis, Iran most probably would have lost the war to Saddam’s army.

When the war was over, the IRGC started to use the Basij for staging propaganda events in support of the regime. For instance, when the supreme leader calls for a rally in support of the system or against Western countries, the Basijis are the first on the scene and encourage or even force others to attend.

Iranian protestors, mainly members of the Basij Islamic militia, holds up a sign during a protest against the war in Iraq 12 April 2003, for the sixth consecutive day outside the British embassy in Tehran. AFP PHOTO/HENGHEMEH FAHIMI

During the presidency of Mohammad Khatami (1997-2005), who attempted some political reforms, Basijis became thugs attacking reformist politicians, journalists, students, or anyone critical of the conservative establishment.

The height of their notoriety was the protests against the re-election of Mahmud Ahmadinejad as Iran’s president in 2009, when they were armed by the IRGC to suppress protesters.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, third left, reviews Basij paramilitary volunteers, affiliated to the elite Revolutionary Guard, during their parade ceremony, as he is accompanied by Revolutionary Guard's commander Yahya Rahim Safavi, second left, T

Iran - Neda Aghasoltan who was killed during 2009 election anti-governmental protest in Amirabad street in Tehran . UNDATED

​​In addition to beating up supporters of the so-called Green Movement and handing them over to security forces, they were also responsible for killing dozens. Their most famous victim was a 26-year-old woman who was shot by a Basiji in June 2009 in downtown Tehran. The video of her tragic death shook the country and the world. Later, a suspect was arrested who carried a Basij identity card.

The Basij also does significant recruitment in schools. The recruits are separated into categories, "Omidan" (Hopes, in elementary schools); "Pouyandegan" (Seekers, in middle schools) and "Pishgaman" (Standard Bearers, in high schools).

In this Friday, Nov. 20, 2015 photo released by the Fars News Agency, members of the Basij, the paramilitary unit of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, pose for a picture during a military exercise outside the holy city of Qom, central Iran. Thousands of paramil

Inside The Mind Of Iran's Basij By Golanz Esfandiari

A Basiji posted the account of his day during the February 2011 protests on his blog, Trench of the Strategic Battle, and we have translated some excerpts:
All my fellow [Basij] had come. Some were on motorbikes. The little and simple equipment of the Basij is more efficient than armies. We put everything in the van and went while chanting: “Ali, Ali” [eds: Shi’a first imam and son in law and cousin of the Prophet Mohammad]. The [Basij members] were all in very good spirits. Someone said, let’s say Salawat [a prayer] for the health of the Hidden Imam. One member said Salawat for the health of Imam Khamenei and the annihilation of the sedition [eds: Green Movement]. Another said Salawat for the guidance of the seditionists.

We reached the [base]. Everything was secret. We were the only one who knew about it, [along with] the locals, cars that were passing by, and finally foreign spies!!! We were supposed to have lunch and wait until they told us where to go. After waiting -- which has become routine for the Basij -- the commander talked to us and gave us some old advice. When he was about to leave, everyone shouted, “What happened to lunch?!” and at the same moment the deployment order came. After some preparation they started distributing some snacks. I didn’t receive any Sandis and cake, we didn’t even get straws that we could poke into opposition leader Mehdi Karrubi’s eyes. [eds: Snacks and drinks, including Sandis juices, were reportedly distributed at some progovernment demonstrations, prompting the opposition to say participants and Basij members only go to these events for the refreshments.] Read More