Imam al-Mahdi Scouts: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 07:37, 3 February 2007

Revision as of 07:39, 3 February 2007

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The '''al-Mahdi Scouts''' are a youth wing of the [[Hezbollah]] in southern [[Lebanon]], named for [[Muhammad al-Mahdi]] and modeled largely on the [[Scouting]] movement, whose status in Scouting is unknown. There are no reliable sources on the members of the [[Fédération du Scoutisme Libanais]] - according to some sources this [[militant]] [[anti-zionist]] organization is a member of the [[federation]] and of the [[World Organization of the Scout Movement]].

[[Fox News]] on [[January 1]], 2007 had a report on the [[al-Mahdi Scouts]], a youth wing of the Hezbollah in southern [[Lebanon]]. In the report footage, the youth look very much like mainstream Scouts, with [[uniform]]s in light and medium blue, white, yellow and purple for different groups, as well as badges similar to mainstream Scouts. The flag of the al-Mahdi Scouts was shown flown from cars and along the roadside and features their emblem, a traditional [[fleur-de-lis]], in the center of which is a hand with an out-turned palm.

According to [[The Center for Special Studies]], the youth movement instructs tens of thousands of children and teenagers in military tactics and indoctrinates them. The CSS further claims that the Mahdi Scouts were established in 1982 and operates under the jurisdiction of the [[Education in Lebanon|Lebanese Ministry of Education]], and the Scouts have about 42,000 Lebanese boys and girls between the ages of 8-16 organized into 499 groups, who reportedly undergo military training at summer camps in [[Shi'ite]] communities in [[Beirut]], the [[Beqaa Valley]] and south Lebanon. The CSS report said there are camps in which youth learn the basic use of arms, along with physical training and march exercises.

According to the CSS report, when male Mahdi Scouts turn 17 they make their way into Hezbollah's fighting ranks; however, the Fox report said very few are actually chosen.