A Turkish Basiji in the making?

According to OECD data, nearly 19 percent of Turkish youth are unemployed. Some 13.3 percent of men aged 15-19, 18.3 percent of men aged 20-24 and 47.6 percent of women aged 20-24 are unemployed, not getting training and not getting an education.

That means millions of young people without any prospects for the future, and millions wandering around aimlessly, open to manipulation and agitation.

Such crowds can be radicalized and used very easily. Some illegal groups might target such a population or in some cases, the state and or the government steps in. Such crowds have been used by the Iranian state. Turkey's government, the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) might be preparing to do the same.

It was right after the famous 2009 elections in Iran. Reformists apparently lost, though people believed the elections were rigged, so they took to the streets, chanting "Where is my vote." Riots soon turned violent. There were policemen and Sepah Pasdaran (Revolutionary Guards) trying to put down the riots. Also, there were some guys on some motorcycles with batons in their hands. They were crashing into the rioters on their motorcycles, hitting young people mercilessly. These guys were in civil clothes, but they were not stopped by the police or the soldiers. They acted like they could do as they wish as there was no law to stop them.

These guys are the famous Basij: The "Sāzmān-e Basij-e Mostaz'afin." Established by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, these were voluntary young Iranians who participated in the Iran-Iraq war. After the war, The Basij did not dissolve but remained. These are groups of people, receiving some social benefits, to organize public religious ceremonies, police morals and suppress dissident gatherings. They serve...