Iran protests rage nationwide

The death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman in the custody of Iran’s “morality” police, has triggered protests throughout the country, with Basij militias using force to disperse demonstrators


Mahsa Amini protests

Tabriz
Urmia
Zanjan
Sanandaj
Ilam
IRAQ
Caspian Sea
Rasht 
Sari
Kazvin
Arak
Hamadan
Kermanshah
Gurgan 
Semnan
Tehran
Isfahan
Yazd
Shiraz
The Gulf
TURKMENISTAN
Birjand
IRAN
Bandar Abbas
AFGHANISTAN
PAKISTAN

400km 250 miles


1979: Organisation for the Mobilisation of the Oppressed – known as Basij shock troops – is created by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini

1981: Basij becomes part of Revolutionary Guards. Basijs are famed for their overwhelming attacks against Saddam Hussein’s troops in 1980-88 war with Iraq

1990s: Morality police are often made up of and backed by Basij militias which number some
one million active members

Sep 13, 2022: Mahsa Amini (above left) – 22-year-old woman arrested by morality police on allegations of violations of Islamic dress code

Sep 16: Amini dies in custody

Sep 22: U.S. imposes sanctions on Iran’s morality police, including head, Mohammad Rostami Cheshmeh Gachi

Sep 16-23: Twelve people, including four members of Basij, killed in Iran during biggest protests since 2019


Sources: Amnesty International, Reuters
Picture: Iran Wire 
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