“Janfada” Drill: Armed Volunteers, Basij Mobilization and the Unusual Appearance of Female Motorcyclists in Tehran
The appearance of women in the Janfada exercise
Another major feature of the event was the participation of women.
Women appeared in dedicated sections of the mobilization, and photographs circulated from the event showed women participating in military-style formations.
Iranian media had already organized women-specific Janfada events earlier in 2026.
In April, Tasnim reported on a “Girls Devoted to Iran” exercise in Tehran, describing an event involving young women and girls.
Similar events were subsequently reported in other Iranian cities.
This means that the appearance of women in the September exercise was not entirely new.
What was particularly striking was the combination of:
women + military formations + firearms + motorcycles.
That combination generated considerable attention online.
September 18, 2026 | 5:45 pm
