Iranian soft-power influence efforts in #Lebanon are ongoing and continuous, including in cultural and educational spheres. On December 11, at the initiative of the Iranian Cultural Attaché at the Iranian Embassy in #Beirut, an appreciation event was held for Persian-language teachers in #Hezbollah’s independent school network “Al-Mahdi” (the “Islamic Authority for Education”).
The central message of the event was the promotion of Iranian cultural influence in Lebanon through language, education, and identity. Participants included Iran’s ambassador Mojtaba Amani, former Lebanese Minister of Culture Mohammad Wissam Mortada, the Iranian cultural attaché Mohammad Reza Mortazavi, and the director-general of “Al-Mahdi,” Dr. Hussein Youssef.
The “Al-Mahdi” network, which operates within the Education Unit under Hezbollah’s Executive Council, was founded in 1993. The network comprises at least 17 schools (from elementary through high school) and is spread across areas of Lebanon’s Shiite base.
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Dear Tal,
Clearly, Iranian nefarious funding of all types must be closely monitored and prevented from continuing. If all funding to all proxies is removed, the cancers will recede and die.