Indoctrination in Hezbollah Schools

How Hezbollah indoctrinates pupils in Shiite schools to disseminate its religious ideology and reinforce ties to Iran. On January 16, an annual ceremony marking students’ arrival at the age of “taklif” (the obligation to observe religious commandments) was held at Al-Mahdi schools in Ain Bourday (in the Beqaa). The event took place under the patronage of Hezbollah’s representative in the Beqaa, Sheikh Tamer Hamza. In the photo, the children who participated in the ceremony can be seen holding posters bearing images (from left to right) of Khamenei, Nasrallah, Naim Qassem, and Hashem Safi al-Din. Written on the images are the phrases: “I would give my soul for Naim Qassem,” “My loyalty is to the exalted martyr Nasrallah,” and “My love and belonging are to Khamenei.” Approximately 90 percent of the educational content in Hezbollah’s school system deals with Shiism, martyrdom, and jihad. In this way, Hezbollah strengthens its influence over the younger generation and ensures its future support and loyalty to the organization and the resistance.