Basij: Iran's Volunteer Militia

The Basij is a large, volunteer paramilitary organization within Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Established by <a href="/article/ruhollah-khomeini">Ruhollah Khomeini</a> after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, it plays a crucial role in enforcing state control, maintaining social order, and providing support for the government, both domestically and sometimes abroad. Its members are known for their loyalty to the Islamic Republic and their involvement in various social, cultural, and security activities.