The Army of Twenty Million

On November 25, 1979, while at a gathering of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Imam Khomeini referred to the military preparedness of all groups of society to fight against the enemies. Imam Khomeini said: “A country which after some years holds twenty million youths has twenty-million-gun bearers and a twenty-million-member army, such a country is not vulnerable.”

This speech was the decree of the formation of an army of twenty million.

Imam Khomeini issued a decree in accordance with Article 110 of the constitution that defined “the mobilization of forces” as one of the responsibilities of the leadership.

After issuing the decree, the “National Mobilization Organization” was formed and began military training and organizing popular forces.

On January 18, 1981, the National Mobilization Organization merged into the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and was called the “The Organization for Mobilization of the Oppressed/Basij-e Mostazafin.”

With the start of Iraq’s Imposed War against Iran (1981-1989), the activities of the Organization for Mobilization of the Oppressed of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were expanded.

It was the most important centre for recruiting, training and deploying volunteer support or combat forces to the battlefields. The volunteer forces dispatched to the front were called Basijis and this is the most familiar term in the Culture of Sacred Defence.

Most of the martyrs, the wounded, the veterans, the captives, and the missing during the eight years of Holy Defence were Basiji, and 43% of all martyrs of the Imposed War (80,846 people) are Basijis.

The formation of the Basij in Iran was organized by popular forces known as the “Resistance Base.” The most important place for these bases is mosques throughout the country. In addition to mosques, resistance bases were established in offices, factories, universities, and schools.

Members of these bases in addition to engaging in urban protection in social affairs and unexpected events such as floods, earthquakes, or vaccinations of children across the country are expediting assistance.

After the end of the Imposed War, the Organization for Mobilization of the Oppressed of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was renamed the “Mobilization Resistance Force” and was one of the seven branches of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

November 26 is the Day of Mobilization and the first week of November is also called “Mobilization Week.” One of the most emotional statements of the Imam in the last years of his life was that “I am a Basiji myself” and asked God to mingle with the Basijis. In his messages and speeches, the Imam always referred to the Basijis as his “children.”