On the streets of Tehran, where a revolution strives to stay alive, the Basij is more than an organization – it is a powerful symbol shaping the identity and influence of the Islamic Republic.
Basij Week in Iran, held annually from November 19 to November 25 since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, is a time for officials to highlight the paramilitary force and its role in Iran.
The Basij, originally established in the early years of the revolution to defend the borders and counter domestic and foreign threats, has since evolved into a multi-purpose organization.
During this year’s Basij Week, numerous officials highlighted the significance of the paramilitary force in political, social, and even cultural spheres.
From the Supreme Leader’s speeches about the Basij breaking deadlocks to a parliament member’s comment about “crushing Israel under Basij boots” and Basij members in western Iran announcing their readiness to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu, all demonstrate the Islamic Republic’s high regard for the Basij.
Officials of the Islamic Republic have categorized the Basij into two types: those who are members of the Basij and those who are working with a Basiji spirit.
In the ideological framework of the Islamic Republic’s officials, the Basij is the solution to every problem. They are active in construction, “standing against oppression,” and have become a barrier to dictatorship.
General Hassan Hasanzadeh, commander of the Mohammad Rasulullah Corps of the IRGC, believes that the Basij has become a force to combat oppression and corruption, saying that it “relies on human and Islamic values to support the oppressed and fight against oppression worldwide,” and “plays an important role in defending human rights”.
From ‘20 Million Troops’ to ‘Shattering Deadlocks’
On November 25, 1979, shortly after the US embassy in Tehran was seized by revolutionaries, Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, said, “Our country is at a point now where if we don’t act quickly, we will be destroyed forever.”
He added, “Everyone must unite. The voices today are only about confronting America. Bring all your forces, shout as loud as you can against America, and protest against America… Everywhere, we need to build a country with 20 million young people who can become 20 million soldiers, 20 million troops. Such a country cannot be harmed.”
Forty-five years later, on the morning of November 25, 2024, Ali Khamenei, the current Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, spoke to a crowd described by the Islamic Republic’s media as “thousands of Basij members.”
He said that Khomeini created the Basij as a barrier against enemies, a force that is active in political, scientific, and social fields.
Khamenei claimed that this has allowed Iran to appear strong on the international stage and said, “The Iranian Basiji believes that one day they will certainly destroy the Zionist regime.”
Khamenei expressed satisfaction with the spirit of the Basij in society and said, “We must not lose this spirit.”
He described the main qualities of the Basij as being sensitive to events, always prepared, and standing firm against enemies, adding: “Basij thought breaks deadlocks and frees young people from mental obstacles because it knows it can.
“A member of the Basij is not intimidated by oppressors and does not get caught up in the turmoil of countries like the US. At the same time, they accept martyrdom and are ready to give their lives for the cause,” he said.
Regarding the “goals” of the United States, he said, “America wants either chaos in this region or to create a dictatorship. Whichever of these happens, we must stand against it.”
Basij and the Axis of Resistance
It is not just the Supreme Leader who speaks of the destruction of Israel – Hossein Maroofi, Deputy Coordinator of the Basij Organization, on November 3, said that “the concept of Basij is now clearly visible and tangible in the Islamic world.”
He added, “The unfinished task must be completed – the unfinished task is the destruction of Israel. The great Iranian nation must strengthen, unite, and support the mission.”
This hardline ideological perspective was echoed in the speeches of other officials throughout the week.
Fatemeh Mohammadi-Begi, head of the Women’s Faction in the Islamic Republic’s parliament, said, “The sound of the bones of the oppressors and Israel breaking under the boots of Basij is heard.”
She also described the Basij as an influential force in the Axis of Resistance, which has expanded Iran’s influence in the region.
Meanwhile, MP Hamidreza Azizi talked about the arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former defense minister Yoav Gallant issued by the International Criminal Court, saying, “The Bakhtiari Basijis have expressed readiness to act on the arrest warrants and enter Netanyahu and Gallant’s homes in line with the Hague Court’s ruling and arrest them.”
Officials of the Islamic Republic also believe that the Basij’s ideology and thoughts on the destruction of Israel have extended beyond Iran’s borders.
Mohammad Mehdi Hosseini Hamadani, Friday Prayer Leader of Karaj, said, “Today, the ideals and values of the Basij have crossed Iran’s borders and reached the oppressed nations of the world, which has united them.”
He added, “Today we witness a front that carries the thought of overthrowing tyranny in Gaza, Yemen, and Palestine, and therefore, the Basij of European and Western countries is forming.”
Basij’s Role in Cultural Revival: Promoting Jihad and Martyrdom
Islamic Republic officials also view the Basij mentality and spirit as the solution to the country’s problems and believe that entrusting tasks to the group would resolve many of the country’s challenges.
“We need to meet with the Basij members to build schools, and within a year, we will solve the problem of the school shortage.”
During the Basij Week, Pezeshkian emphasized the importance of the Basij spirit, saying that by using this spirit, “we must train young people who have the belief and faith to build the country in their hearts.”
He added that “students should be trained in such a way that they will not abandon their country, even if they beat them.”
At the same time, he acknowledged the various problems in the education sector, saying, “Who should resolve this injustice? We believe that the Basij’s approach should help implement justice and eliminate discrimination… the problem cannot be solved without the behavior and attitude of the Basij.”
Two days after Pezeshkian, Alireza Zakani, the mayor of Tehran, also emphasized the Basij spirit, referring to the Iran-Iraq war experiences and saying, “The culture of jihad and martyrdom is the missing element in our society today.”
He presented the Basij as a tool for reviving this culture and said that these values can solve social problems.
Islamic Republic officials consider the Basij’s presence to enforce mandatory hijab laws as well.
Meysam Rezvanpour, the social deputy of the Basij, said: “Today, the enemy has a plan for hijab in this land, which has been known for its people’s modesty and honor.”
Alireza Kazemi, the Minister of Education, referred to Basij members as “pioneers of the Islamic Republic in the path of the revolution” and said, “To be a good soldier for the Islamic Republic, it is essential to be a member of Basij.”
Basij in Society: From Service to Social Control
Before Khamenei’s speech, General Gholamreza Soleimani, head of the Basij Organization, spoke about the people’s role in the Basij, saying: “The Basij has been, is, and will always be for the people.”
He said that with 62,000 jihadist groups, the Basij is playing a role in various fields like poverty alleviation, development, employment, and water projects.
During the week, some Basij officials highlighted the organization’s achievements, including General Hossein Qureshi, deputy head of the Basij, who announced that the Basij had created 90,000 job opportunities over the past two years.
He also mentioned projects like ” Nafas,” which, according to him, aimed to prevent abortions among women.
The head of the Basij Organization also reported that the Basij had set up 200 centers to “combat abortion,” and this number would reach 300 by the end of the year.
The actions, presented as efforts to “support the family,” are part of a broader Basij program for social control and surveillance of people’s private lives.
The perspective was echoed by Ahmad Madari, Minister of Labor, who described the Basij as a model for the country’s administrative system, saying, “If the administrative system wants to remain Basiji, it must adopt the Basij culture.”
The statements of Islamic Republic officials during Basij Week 2024 reveal that the Basij, both as an ideology and an organization, serves as a tool to protect the Islamic Republic against domestic threats and, on the other hand, to expand regional and international influence.
The Basij remains a key instrument of the Islamic Republic to consolidate power and spread its ideology.
Source » iranwire