After the Iran-Iraq war, the Basij returned to its role as an internal security force to enforce Islamic morality.

CNN: Feared Basij militia has deep history in Iranian conflict

Gholam-Hussain Kluli Dezfuli, commander of the feared Basij, told an Iranian paper that the numbers marked an increase on the same period last year.

BBC: Vice on the rise in Iran

Already the Majlis speaker, Ali Larijani, has voiced criticism of raids on student dormitories by the government militia, the Basij, and a committee of MPs called in the interior minister for questioning.

BBC: Iran poll row set to rage on

Most people are from the Basij.

NEWYORKER: Election, Monitored

Ghalibaf, who once fancied himself as Iran's answer to Tom Cruise, has had his popular credibility bruised by the sudden release of a recording of a speech he allegedly gave to members of the Basij militia bragging about how much he enjoyed getting on his motorbike and thumping students.

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