The Basij (Persian: بسيج, lit. "The Mobilization") are community councils in Iran that serve as the basis for the defense of the Iranian Revolution. The Basij are called other names such as Niru-ye Moghāvemat-e Basij (Persian: نیروی مقاومت بسیج, "Resistance Mobilization Force"), full name Sâzmân-e Basij-e Mostaz'afin (Persian: سازمان بسیج مستضعفین, "The Organization for Mobilization of the Oppressed")[1][2]
An individual member of the Basij is called a Basiji.
It began as a paramilitary volunteer militia established to fight in the Iran-Iraq war, but today it mostly consists of young Iranians who volunteer and participate in internal security, providing social services, etc
References
- ↑ Ali Alfoneh (2010-10-06). "The Basij Resistance Force" United States Institute for Peace.
- ↑ [https://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/world/iran/basij.htm "Niruyeh Moghavemat Basij Mobilisation Resistance Force"]. Global Security.