Controversy over ‘Reinforcement’ of Basij

An initiative earlier passed with single urgency to modify Chapter Four of the IRGC’s Memorandum of Association was ratified in the Iranian Parliament as the “Basij Reinforcement Act”, after the national security committee applied alterations in the title and content of the bid. Though the act approved in the final months of the ninth Majlis needs endorsement from the Guardian Council and may still undergo alterations before being notified to the country’s executive bodies, it has prompted some concerns.

The plan now leaves unchanged the fourth chapter of the IRGC’s Memorandum of Association, which takes into account the duties of the Basij, the force’s volunteer arm, but instead has become an independent act determining fresh powers and responsibilities for the Basij.

The mastermind behind the plan, Mohammad-Saleh Joukar, told Shargh it was initiated to adopt the duties of the Basij with state-of-the-art requirements such as resistance against ‘soft threats’.

“Having in mind the need to reinforce the Basij, the plan is designed for military training of citizens, teaching and promoting Basij values, and essential aid training for emergencies,” Mohammad Hassan Asafari of the national security and foreign policy committee said after citing the committee’s report on the plan in Majlis. “The Basij has always been a step ahead of all governmental institutions in every sphere as a popular force and no interference is supposed to occur in executive affairs with the proposed plan,” he said in reaction to an objection posed by an administration representative, Khabar Online reported.

Even though some articles of the plan proposed as the arm’s new rights were abrogated in the national security committee before coming back to an open session of the Majlis, the outline of the “Basij Reinforcement Act” shows steps toward establishing an organization with more influence and power among the public.

The first article of the act states the aim of the Basij as being “creating necessary capabilities in all the individuals committed to the Constitution and goals of the Islamic Republic, organizing them for full-scale defense of the establishment and effective voluntary efforts in all spheres of social life, advancing the Revolution’s goal to accelerate the formation of an Islamic society”.

These are supposed to be achieved through measures including training citizens for defending the country and establishment. The article bestows unrivaled rights to the Basij in virtually all aspects of life in Iran from religious, political and defense to security, culture, economy, and scientific development.

However, what had become even more controversial was the second article, which provoked opposition due to its obscurities and referred to the national security for further investigation.

The article authorizes the Basij to establish bases all across the country, in all residential towns and commercial complexes, villages, mosques and neighborhoods, ministries, administrations, schools, universities, seminary schools and academic centers, sport federations and clubs. All executive and public institutions are obliged to cooperate. The first provision authorizes the Basij to establish ‘resistance bases’ in all factories, institutes, manufacturing and services companies. Executive bodies of the administration are required to cooperate by dedicating space, equipment and work force.

Ali Motahhari, one of the opponents of the plan, says the presence of the Basij in residential townships is out of the question and will have negative consequences. “The presence of the Basij in residential townships creates a ‘security atmosphere’ in the country. Thus, if the aim is to protect the security of residential townships, police forces can be deployed,” he told the parliament in a notice.

Ahmad Tavakkoli, another prominent MP opposed to the plan, said it violated Principle 60 of the Constitution as the plan is delegating duties of the executive branch of the government to the Basij, which is a branch of the country’s armed forces. “I think it is inconsistent with Principle 60 of the Constitution and the Guardian Council may reject it,” he said.