Basij Resistance Force

Person/Entity:
Entity
Also Known As:
Baseej; Basij; Basij-e Melli; Mobilization of the Oppressed Organization; National Mobilization Organization; National Resistance Mobilization; Resistance Mobilization Force; Sazman Basij Melli; Sazman-e Moghavemat-e Basij; Vahed-e Basij-e Mostazafeen
Sanctioned by U.S:
Yes
Date Sanctioned by U.S:
2011-06-09
Sanctioned by EU:
Yes
Date Sanctioned by EU:
2022-10-17
Sanctioned by U.K.:
Yes
Date Sanctioned by U.K.:
2023-01-23
Sanctioned by Canada:
Yes
Date Sanctioned by Canada:
2022-10-03
Sanctioned by Australia:
Yes
Date Sanctioned by Australia:
2022-12-08
U.S Laws/EOs Sanctioned Under:
EO 13553
EU Laws/Regulations Sanctioned Under:
Decision 2011/235/CFSP and Regulation No 359/2011
U.K. Laws/Regulations Sanctioned Under:
Iran (Sanctions) (Human Rights) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019
Canadian Laws/Regulations Sanctioned Under:
Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations
Australian Laws/Regulations Sanctioned Under:
Autonomous Sanctions (Designated Persons and Entities and Declared Persons—Thematic Sanctions) Amendment (No. 1) Instrument 2023
Description

"The Departments of the Treasury and State today imposed sanctions... for being responsible for or complicit in serious human rights abuses in Iran since the June 2009 disputed presidential election... The Basij is a paramilitary force subordinate to the IRGC. As one of Iran’s primary guarantors of domestic security, the Basij has been heavily involved in the violent crackdowns and serious human rights abuses occurring in Iran since the June 2009 contested presidential election. The Basij have been implicated in attacks on university students, abuse of detainees, and violence against peaceful protesters. The Basij is also being designated today for being controlled by the IRGC." 1

"The Basij Resistance Force is a volunteer paramilitary organisation operating under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) with branches throughout Iran. The security forces’ response to the September 2022 protests in Iran was particularly harsh, resulting in the deaths of multiple people. The Basij Resistance Force was one of the forces ordered by the government to quell those protests. It injured and killed several protesters. The Basij Resistance Force is directly responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran."2

"There are reasonable grounds to suspect that the Basij Resistance Force is an involved person under the Iran (Sanctions) (Human Rights) (EU Exit) Regulations
2019 as it has been involved in serious human rights violations in Iran, including being responsible for, engaging in and providing support for violations of the right to life and right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly through the violent repression of protests in Iran."3

NOTE:

Canada has sanctioned the Basij, pursuant to the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations, regarding Iran's "grave breach of international peace and security."4

Source:

1. https://www.treasury.gov/

2. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv%3AOJ.LI.2022.269.01.0001.01.ENG&toc=OJ%3AL%3A2022%3A269I%3ATOC 

3. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1130665/Notice_Iran__Human_Rights__230123.pdf

4. https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2010-165/FullText.html

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