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Hezbollah’s “Education Mobilization:” An institution engaged in the indoctrination of Shiite students in Lebanon’s state and private educational systems, in preparation for their joining Hezbollah upon graduation

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Emblem of the Education Mobilization (Radio Nour website). Hezbollah’s emblem is shown with the inscription “Education Mobilization” (top left).

Emblem of the Education Mobilization (Radio Nour website). Hezbollah’s emblem is shown with the inscription “Education Mobilization” (top left).

Hezbollah fighter explains on various types of weapons during a meeting with students and lecturers in the Al-Massar academic institute in the village of Al-Lubuwwa in the Bekaa Valley (Education Mobilization website, no date)

Hezbollah fighter explains on various types of weapons during a meeting with students and lecturers in the Al-Massar academic institute in the village of Al-Lubuwwa in the Bekaa Valley (Education Mobilization website, no date)

“Life cycle” of youth from Hezbollah’s perspective: infancy, adolescence, studies, academic studies, military activity, heroic death (which is indicated by a coffin with Hezbollah’s emblem). The poster about the “life cycle” appears along with Quran copies sent by students to the Shrine of Sayyida Zaynab, a holy Shiite site in Syria, in memory of the souls of “Shahids of the Holy Defense” (reference to Hezbollah’s shahids in the Syrian civil war) (Facebook page of the Education Mobilization, the Second Region [southern Lebanon, south of the Litani River], March 21, 2019).

“Life cycle” of youth from Hezbollah’s perspective: infancy, adolescence, studies, academic studies, military activity, heroic death (which is indicated by a coffin with Hezbollah’s emblem). The poster about the “life cycle” appears along with Quran copies sent by students to the Shrine of Sayyida Zaynab, a holy Shiite site in Syria, in memory of the souls of “Shahids of the Holy Defense” (reference to Hezbollah’s shahids in the Syrian civil war) (Facebook page of the Education Mobilization, the Second Region [southern Lebanon, south of the Litani River], March 21, 2019).

Hezbollah fighter talking with high school students at an educational youth camp on the Litani River bank in the village of Tair Filsay in southern Lebanon. The camp was organized by the Education Mobilization. According to the Education Mobilization website, the objective of the camp was “to build the human being and prepare them for life […] raise a generation of youth with values of citizenship and collective activity” (Education Mobilization website, no date)

Hezbollah fighter talking with high school students at an educational youth camp on the Litani River bank in the village of Tair Filsay in southern Lebanon. The camp was organized by the Education Mobilization. According to the Education Mobilization website, the objective of the camp was “to build the human being and prepare them for life […] raise a generation of youth with values of citizenship and collective activity” (Education Mobilization website, no date)

Education Mobilization Director Hajj Yusuf Merei delivering a speech at the Education Mobilization’s annual graduation ceremony (Al-Khiyam website, December 2, 2010)

Education Mobilization Director Hajj Yusuf Merei delivering a speech at the Education Mobilization’s annual graduation ceremony (Al-Khiyam website, December 2, 2010)

Hezbollah fighter meets with female activists of the Education Mobilization in southern Lebanon as part of a “jihadi trip.” The trip included visits at the grave of a shahid and a Hezbollah post. During the visit, the fighter talked with them about “jihadi spirit” and the virtues of Sayyida Zaynab (the daughter of Imam Ali and Fatima, the Prophet Muhammad’s daughter, revered by the Shiites) and the connection with Imam Al-Mahdi (Facebook page of the Education Mobilization, The Second Region [in southern Lebanon], May 4, 2016)

Hezbollah fighter meets with female activists of the Education Mobilization in southern Lebanon as part of a “jihadi trip.” The trip included visits at the grave of a shahid and a Hezbollah post. During the visit, the fighter talked with them about “jihadi spirit” and the virtues of Sayyida Zaynab (the daughter of Imam Ali and Fatima, the Prophet Muhammad’s daughter, revered by the Shiites) and the connection with Imam Al-Mahdi (Facebook page of the Education Mobilization, The Second Region [in southern Lebanon], May 4, 2016)

Senior official of the Iranian Embassy in Lebanon, Mohammad Sadeq Fadli, talking to the participants in the trip (Facebook page of the Nour Club, February 25, 2018)

Senior official of the Iranian Embassy in Lebanon, Mohammad Sadeq Fadli, talking to the participants in the trip (Facebook page of the Nour Club, February 25, 2018)

Armed Hezbollah fighter talking to female student members of the Nour Club, an Education Mobilization student cell at LIU (Lebanese International University). The talk took place during a trip organized by the Education Mobilization to the village of Naqoura in southern Lebanon.

Armed Hezbollah fighter talking to female student members of the Nour Club, an Education Mobilization student cell at LIU (Lebanese International University). The talk took place during a trip organized by the Education Mobilization to the village of Naqoura in southern Lebanon.

Overview
  • Iran, which established Hezbollah during the First Lebanon War, attached major importance to indoctrination activity among Shiite youth from Hezbollah’s inception. Iran considered this activity a principal instrument of influence for designing the future image of Shiite Islamic society in Lebanon, and as leverage for gaining an influential position in this society. This is indeed a long-term investment, which includes the establishment of educational and cultural institutions. However, the Iranians believed that without it they would not be able to realize their vision in Lebanon,[1] and to this end, they were prepared to invest large sums of money for a period of up to several decades.
  • As a result of this Iranian perception and the large financial resources placed at Hezbollah’s disposal, from its inception, Hezbollah has established a large-scale educational infrastructure among the Shiite population. This infrastructure includes two educational networks operating among the Shiite population in Lebanon (kindergartens, elementary schools, junior high schools, and high schools)[2]; a youth movement (the Imam al-Mahdi Scouts)[3], and the “Sports Mobilization,” an institution which promotes extensive sports activity among Shiite youth. This educational activity, including its various expressions, takes place in the “state within a state” built by Hezbollah among the Shiite community in Lebanon with massive Iranian financial support.[4]

One of the institutions established by Hezbollah as part of its educational infrastructure is called the “Education Mobilization.” This institution is engaged in the indoctrination of the youth, based on strengthening Shiite Islam in its Iranian version, and promoting support for Hezbollah, for Iran, and for the struggle against Israel. The objective of this indoctrination is to prepare the younger generation to join as operatives in the ranks of Hezbollah upon graduating their studies, and at the same time enhance Hezbollah’s impact among the Shiite population. For this purpose, the Education Mobilization assists Shiite students in the various educational institutions. Hezbollah’s assistance finds its expression in aid with tuition, textbooks, remedial lessons, courses in advance of the matriculation exams and university entrance exams, workshops, trips etc. The Education Mobilization activity actually complements Hezbollah’s indoctrination through its networks of private schools (the Al-Mahdi and the Al-Mustafa school networks) and through the youth movement (the Imam al-Mahdi Scouts Association).

Another emblem of the Education Mobilization, which is widespread mainly in social media (Facebook page of the Education Mobilization in Hermel). This emblem includes the following text: “Education Mobilization, knowledge and jihad.” On the left, there is a drawing of a student holding a book, while his silhouette is that of a fighter (wearing a helmet and boots). This emblem emphasizes the expectation that upon graduation, students will enlist in the ranks of Hezbollah for military activity.    Emblem of the Education Mobilization (Radio Nour website). Hezbollah’s emblem is shown with the inscription “Education Mobilization” (top left).
Right: Emblem of the Education Mobilization (Radio Nour website). Hezbollah’s emblem is shown with the inscription “Education Mobilization” (top left). Left: Another emblem of the Education Mobilization, which is widespread mainly in social media (Facebook page of the Education Mobilization in Hermel). This emblem includes the following text: “Education Mobilization, knowledge and jihad.” On the left, there is a drawing of a student holding a book, while his silhouette is that of a fighter (wearing a helmet and boots). This emblem emphasizes the expectation that upon graduation, students will enlist in the ranks of Hezbollah for military activity.
  • An examination of the Education Mobilization activities as published on its website shows that the main values inculcated by this institution among students are radical Shiite Islam (in its Iranian version); support for Hezbollah; support for Iran and the “Axis of Resistance”; and the values of jihad (holy war) and Shahada (self-sacrifice of a Muslim for the sake of Allah during battle against an enemy). For this purpose, the Education Mobilization initiates a variety of events and activities in universities and among the Shiite population, mainly in southern Lebanon, which mostly take place on Shiite holidays and on Hezbollah’s anniversaries and memorial days (for example, on the anniversary of the IDF’s withdrawal from Lebanon). On the other hand, the analysis of the Education Mobilization activities shows that social activities or marking Lebanese national holidays are marginal in the activities promoted by the Education Mobilization among Shiite students.
Hezbollah operative talking to high school students taking part in an educational youth camp on the Litani River bank in the village of Tair Filsay in southern Lebanon. The camp was organized by the Education Mobilization (Education Mobilization website, no date).   Hezbollah operative explaining about various types of weapons during a meeting with students and lecturers in the Al-Massar academic institute in the village of Al-Lubuwwa in the Bekaa Valley (Education Mobilization website, no date).
Right: Hezbollah operative explaining about various types of weapons during a meeting with students and lecturers in the Al-Massar academic institute in the village of Al-Lubuwwa in the Bekaa Valley (Education Mobilization website, no date). Left: Hezbollah operative talking to high school students taking part in an educational youth camp on the Litani River bank in the village of Tair Filsay in southern Lebanon. The camp was organized by the Education Mobilization (Education Mobilization website, no date).

Apparently, the United States has not designated the Education Mobilization as a terrorist entity and has not imposed any sanctions on it [5] , although this is a Hezbollah institution; and although Hezbollah has been designated as a terrorist and criminal organization; and although this institution is engaged in the indoctrination of youth in preparation for recruiting them to Hezbollah.

“Life cycle” of youth from Hezbollah’s perspective: infancy, adolescence, studies, academic studies, military activity, heroic death (which is indicated by a coffin with Hezbollah’s emblem). The poster about the “life cycle” appears along with Quran copies sent by students to the Shrine of Sayyida Zaynab, a holy Shiite site in Syria, in memory of the souls of “Shahids of the Holy Defense” (reference to Hezbollah’s shahids in the Syrian civil war) (Facebook page of the Education Mobilization, the Second Region [southern Lebanon, south of the Litani River], March 21, 2019).
“Life cycle” of youth from Hezbollah’s perspective: infancy, adolescence, studies, academic studies, military activity, heroic death (which is indicated by a coffin with Hezbollah’s emblem). The poster about the “life cycle” appears along with Quran copies sent by students to the Shrine of Sayyida Zaynab, a holy Shiite site in Syria, in memory of the souls of “Shahids of the Holy Defense” (reference to Hezbollah’s shahids in the Syrian civil war) (Facebook page of the Education Mobilization, the Second Region [southern Lebanon, south of the Litani River], March 21, 2019).

Structure of the study[6]
  • The study includes the following sections:
    • Education Mobilization: overview
    • Target audiences and the values inculcated by the Education Mobilization
    • Indoctrination of students: two test cases
    • Education Mobilization activity at the Lebanese University
    • Funding sources
    • Ties with Iran
    • Replicating the Education Mobilization to other Iranian proxies in the Middle East
    • Appendix: List of the ITIC’s publications on Hezbollah’s civilian infrastructure

[1] Shimon Shapira, Hezbollah between Iran and Lebanon, Moshe Dayan Center, Tel Aviv University and Hakibbutz Hameuchad (2000), p. 140 (Hebrew); hereinafter: Shimon Shapira. ↑
[2] See the ITIC's Information Bulletin from June 20, 2019, “Hezbollah operates networks of private schools indoctrinating the Shiite community in Lebanon with the ideology of the Islamic Revolution in Iran and with loyalty to Hezbollah and the path of terrorism” ↑
[3] See the ITIC's Information Bulletin from July11, 2019, “The Imam al-Mahdi Scouts Association: Hezbollah’s youth movement which indoctrinates youth with Iranian radical Shiite Islam and serves as a source of youngsters who join Hezbollah” ↑
[4] The ITIC is carrying out a research project analyzing Hezbollah’s civilian institutions. Seven such foundations and institutions have been examined so far as part of this project (see appendix). ↑
[5] The Education Mobilization does not appear in the US Department of the Treasury’s SDN website (Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List). ↑
[6] The ITIC wishes to thank Alma Center for providing information that assisted it in writing the current document. ↑

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