Misc

The Basij (Persian: بسيج) (literally "Mobilization"; also Basij-e Mostaz'afin, literally "Mobilization of the Oppressed"; officially Nirouye Moqavemate Basij, literally "Mobilisation Resistance Force") is a paramilitary volunteer militia founded by the order of the Ayatollah Khomeini in November 1979. The Basij are subordinate to, and receive their orders from, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and current Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

The force has been widely used in order to control the widescale protests following the 2009 Iranian presidential election. According to Iranian state-run media reports, eight of the 20 killed during the protests were members of Basij.

Consisting of young Iranians who volunteer to join this force, the Basij are most notable for their loyalty to the supreme leader Khamenei. Currently Basij serve as an auxiliary force engaged in activities such as internal security as well law enforcement auxiliary, the providing of social service, organizing of public religious ceremonies, and more controversially morals policing and the suppression of dissident gatherings. They have a local organization in almost every city in Iran.