Who Is Leading the Crackdown on Iran’s Protests? - 1 minute read
They appear at the first sign of protest in Iran - men in black, riding motorcycles, often with guns or batons.
They are members of what is known as the Basij, paramilitary volunteers who are fiercely loyal to the Islamic Republic. The Ayatollahs' shock troops have taken the lead in suppressing dissent for more than two decades.
During the latest protests, which erupted after a young woman died in the custody of the country's morality police last month, the Basij (ba-SEEJ') deployed in major cities, attacking and detaining protesters who in many cases fought back...
