Ansar-e Hezbollah
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Ansar-e-Hezbollah[1] (Arabic: أنصار حزب الله, Persian: انصار حزبالله) (Ansar is Arabic and means patrons or helpers) is a militant ultraconservative Islamist group in Iran. It revolves around the figure of Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and his ideological thought. Mojtaba Bigdeli is a spokesman for the Iranian Hezbollah.
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[edit] Origin and status
Ansar-i Hizbullah, which is Arabic for Followers of the Party of God, is on occasion characterized as a vigilante group[2]. However, this does not meet the strict definition of the word inasmuch as the group pledge loyalty to the Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei[3]. The group is thought to be financed by many senior clerics and is in fact a semi-official, paramilitary group.[4]. It is a radical group that seeks to promote the religion of Islam,[5] and it only numbers several thousand.[3]
[edit] Membership
Most of the members of Ansar e Hezbollah are either member of the Basij militias or are veterans of the Iran-Iraq War.[4]
[edit] Activities
The Ansar-e-Hezbollah is known for attacking protesters at anti-government demonstrations, in particular during the Iran student riots, July 1999.[6][7] Members typically dress in black clothes and attack using bars, chains, and similar weapons[8], sometimes while riding motorcycles.[4].
[edit] See also
[edit] References and notes
- ^ CIA - The World Factbook see the "Government" section, "Political pressure groups and leaders" subsection in the 2006 version
- ^ Debate hots up in Iranian media July 1999
- ^ a b Vigilantes join the fray June 2003
- ^ a b c Ansar-i Hizbullah Followers of the Party of God
- ^ IRAN HIZBULLAH TO PUBLISH NEWSPAPER
- ^ Injustice and ill treatment Amnesty International 7 July 2004
- ^ http://www.unhchr.ch/Huridocda/Huridoca.nsf/TestFrame/79ddf7f5e0b41a94802566560054f16e?Opendocument
- ^ Assault on Iranian students condemned Human Rights Watch
[edit] Further reading
- Persian Pilgrimages: Journeys Across Iran ISBN 0-393-05119-6
- Religion and Politics in Comparative Perspective: The One, The Few, and The Many ISBN 0-521-65971-X
[edit] External links
- Official site (in Persian)
- Letter to Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei
- Ansar-i Hizbullah, Followers of the Party of God
- Iran's Hardline Vigilantes and the Prospects for Reform June 2001
- Terrorism: Terror Organizations
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