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Iranian security forces have widely used shotguns to repress the protests exploding around the country. At least 20 protesters have died after being hit by shotgun blasts, according to Amnesty International. A member of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s militia, the Basij, told us how security forces are trained to control protests.
Shotguns are used by all units of Iran’s security forces: riot police, plainclothes police, and members of the Basij. Shotguns can indeed be used by police for crowd control: when fired at a distance using special ammunition like plastic pellets, they can be considered “less-lethal” weapons.
But that’s not how they have been used in Iran.
Mostafa (not his real name), a member of the Basij, told us more under the condition of anonymity.
We had a few hours of…
