Information on whether there is forcible recruitment into the Revolutionary Guard, and whether there was forcible recruitment during the Iran/Iraq war, and whether persons who has already performed regular army service are so recruited [IRN16100.E]

The following information was provided by a specialist in Iranian politics in Toronto (4 Jan. 1994). According to this source, forcible recruitment into the Revolutionary Guard is not done today, was not done during the Iran/Iraq war, and anyone who has already performed regular army service will not be so recruited. The only time people may be forcibly recruited is through conscription for regular military service. As well, there could be a general mobilization due to an impending war or a national event requiring the mobilization of all able-bodied males. The source noted that the Revolutionary Guard depends on volunteers and it has never been short of persons wanting to join its ranks. The source noted that in the past the Revolutionary Guards had to turn back many volunteers because there was no place for them.

The above information was corroborated by an official with the U.S. Committee for Refugees in Washington, DC (5 Jan. 1994). This source explained that there are three kinds of military or paramilitary forces in Iran: the regular army, which relies on conscripts to fill its ranks; the Basij, which is made up of volunteers; and the Revolutionary Guard, which is a volunteer corp of "true believers" in the cause of Islam. According to the source, there is therefore no need to force anyone to join the Revolutionary Guards.

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Sociologist and specialist in Iranian politics, Toronto. 4 January 1994. Telephone interview.

U.S. Committee for Refugees, Washington, DC. 5 January 1994. Telephone interview with specialist on Iranian affairs.