Tehran, january 12, 2026 – Iranian lawmakers are urging a reinstatement of patrols by the Basij, a paramilitary force, as the countryS security forces escalate a violent crackdown on ongoing anti-government protests.
Shadowy Force Returns to the Streets Amid Deadly Unrest
Table of Contents
More than 544 people have been killed in 15 days of demonstrations, including eight children, according to the Human Rights Activist New Agency (HRANA).
- The Basij is a volunteer militia linked to Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
- Formed after the 1979 revolution, the group enforces state ideology and suppresses dissent.
- The US has sanctioned the Basij for human rights abuses, including the use of child soldiers.
- The Basij has played a key role in quashing protests in 2009 and 2022.
What exactly *is* the Basij, this ofen-cited but largely misunderstood Iranian paramilitary group that the state consistently deploys to quell unrest? It’s a question worth asking as the current protests rage on.
Who Are the basij?
In Farsi, “Basij” translates to “mobilization.” It functions as a volunteer paramilitary group and serves as an auxiliary force to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a highly influential and elite branch of the Iranian military. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini established the Basij shortly after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, famously proclaiming that Iran could be defended by a 20-million-person militia.
Recruitment and Structure
The Basij draws it’s members from both rural and urban areas, organizing primarily around mosques in Tehran and other major cities. Recruits often come from more conservative and economically disadvantaged backgrounds
History of suppression
the Basij has a long history of involvement in suppressing dissent. In 2009, the Basij took a leading role in controlling crowds when tens of thousands of Iranian demonstrators protested the presidential election in Tehran. Similarly, in 2022, the group was heavily involved in suppressing widespread protests following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in police custody.
Current Crackdown and Online Monitoring
the Basij is currently among the security forces deployed to suppress the protests that have gripped Iran for the past 15 days. Iranian state media has reported casualties within its security forces, including members of the Basij. There are also reports that the Basij is involved in monitoring online activity during the protests. On Sunday, the basij News Agency, the official news channel of the Basij forces, announced the shutdown of a blogger’s website and social media channels, stating, “the arrest of bloggers supporting riot continues.”
