Hezbollah's Mahdi Scouts (28 images)

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The Imam al-Mahdi Scouts are one of Hezbollah's many social programs in Lebanon. Originally founded in 1985, the youth-centered scout program includes both boys and girls, and counts at least 40,000 members in it's ranks, divided into the classifications of Cub, Scout, and Ranger. Although the Mahdi Scouts are part of the Lebanese Scouting Federation, and thereby The World Organization of the Scout Movement, it is believed by some intelligence services that the Mahdi Scouts serve as a...
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  • 8/26/2008 Nabatye, Lebanon.A Lebanese Hezbollah supporter photographs his sons, both dressed in military fatigues next to a Hezbollah rocket launcher at an exhibit held to honor assassinated senior Hezbollah commander, Imad Mughnieh, in Nabatye, Tuesday...

  • 8/20/2009 South Lebanon.Hezbollah Mahdi Scout activities in South Lebanon. ..Credit: Bryan Denton

  • 8/20/2009 South Lebanon.Hezbollah Mahdi Scout activities in South Lebanon. ..Credit: Bryan Denton

  • 12/02/2007 El-Khiam, Lebanon.A badge bearing the face of Iranian Ayatollah Khomeini is worn pinned to the breast of a teenage Mahdi Scout in el-Khiam, Lebanon...The Mahdi Scouts are a Hezbollah sponsored youth group similar to other boy-scout programs around the world. The Scouts, who wear uniforms depending on their rank, include boys and girls between the ages of 4-16, and they participate in a variety of youth activities including performances and Charity work. While Hezbollah denies a direct link between the Mahdi Scouts and it's armed militia, it is commonly believed the smartest and best of the young men in the organization are groomed to become Hezbollah fighters. Weekend activities include parades, performaces by costumed characters to the speeches of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and planting of trees in the community by adolescent Scouts...

  • 8/30/2008 Ryak, Lebanon.A Young member of Hezbollah's Mahdi Scouts marches single file into a sports arena passed a large backdrop of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah receiving gifts from Scouts (pictured in background) at "Scout City" to participate in a graduation ceremony for fellow Mahdi Scouts, in Lebanon's Beka'a valley...The Imam al-Mahdi Scouts are one of Hezbollah's many social programs in Lebanon. Originally founded in 1985, the youth-centered scout program includes both boys and girls, and counts at least 40,000 members in it's ranks, divided into the classifications of Cub, Scout, and Ranger. Although the Mahdi Scouts are part of the Lebanese Scouting Federation, and thereby The World Organization of the Scout Movement, it is believed by some intelligence services that the Mahdi Scouts serve as a recruiting tool for Hezbollah's armed wing, filtering out potential fighters based on their discipline and religious devotion, as well as initiating the male Scouts and Rangers into basic military training. In contrast to these accusations, much of the Mahdi Scouts visible activities center around intense religious education, outdoor activities, arts and crafts, performances, as well as community based social assistance and service similar to those practiced by scout movements around the world...

  • 8/20/2009 South Lebanon.Hezbollah Mahdi Scout activities in South Lebanon. ..Credit: Bryan Denton

  • 8/29/2008 Tyr Filsay, Lebanon.An arrow that points towards an Israeli Star of David, denoting the path of the Hezbollah organization, as described by a young Imam al-Mahdi Scout at a camp on the Litani River in South Lebanon...The Imam al-Mahdi Scouts are one of Hezbollah's many social programs in Lebanon. Originally founded in 1985, the youth-centered scout program includes both boys and girls, and counts at least 40,000 members in it's ranks, divided into the classifications of Cub, Scout, and Ranger. Although the Mahdi Scouts are part of the Lebanese Scouting Federation, and thereby The World Organization of the Scout Movement, it is believed by some intelligence services that the Mahdi Scouts serve as a recruiting tool for Hezbollah's armed wing, filtering out potential fighters based on their discipline and religious devotion, as well as initiating the male Scouts and Rangers into basic military training. In contrast to these accusations, much of the Mahdi Scouts visible activities center around intense religious education, outdoor activities, arts and crafts, performances, as well as community based social assistance and service similar to those practiced by scout movements around the world...

  • 8/30/2008 Ryak, Lebanon.Graduating members of Hezbollah's Mahdi Scouts march in formation at a ceremony held in their honor at "Scout City" --a large recreation facility for Scout programs in Lebanon's Beka'a valley. ..The Imam al-Mahdi Scouts are one of Hezbollah's many social programs in Lebanon. Originally founded in 1985, the youth-centered scout program includes both boys and girls, and counts at least 40,000 members in it's ranks, divided into the classifications of Cub, Scout, and Ranger. Although the Mahdi Scouts are part of the Lebanese Scouting Federation, and thereby The World Organization of the Scout Movement, it is believed by some intelligence services that the Mahdi Scouts serve as a recruiting tool for Hezbollah's armed wing, filtering out potential fighters based on their discipline and religious devotion, as well as initiating the male Scouts and Rangers into basic military training. In contrast to these accusations, much of the Mahdi Scouts visible activities center around intense religious education, outdoor activities, arts and crafts, performances, as well as community based social assistance and service similar to those practiced by scout movements around the world...

  • 8/20/2009 South Lebanon.Hezbollah Mahdi Scout activities in South Lebanon. ..Credit: Bryan Denton

  • 8/30/2008 Ryak, Lebanon.Young members of Hezbollah's Mahdi Scouts watch as dignitaries, including Nazil Fatih, an official in charge of the entire Mahdi Scout program, at "Scout City" in Lebanon's Beka'a valley, make speeches praising the youth organization and the "Resistance" (Hezbollah), at a Mahdi Scout Graduation ceremony...The Imam al-Mahdi Scouts are one of Hezbollah's many social programs in Lebanon. Originally founded in 1985, the youth-centered scout program includes both boys and girls, and counts at least 40,000 members in it's ranks, divided into the classifications of Cub, Scout, and Ranger. Although the Mahdi Scouts are part of the Lebanese Scouting Federation, and thereby The World Organization of the Scout Movement, it is believed by some intelligence services that the Mahdi Scouts serve as a recruiting tool for Hezbollah's armed wing, filtering out potential fighters based on their discipline and religious devotion, as well as initiating the male Scouts and Rangers into basic military training. In contrast to these accusations, much of the Mahdi Scouts visible activities center around intense religious education, outdoor activities, arts and crafts, performances, as well as community based social assistance and service similar to those practiced by scout movements around the world...

  • 8/26/2008 Nabatye, Lebanon.A young Lebanese woman reacts to a skeleton dressed as an Israeli soldier, on display at the "Al-Imad: The Leader of the Two Victories" exhibit in Nabatye, Tuesday...Hezbollah opened an exhibit in Nabatye, Lebanon this August titled "Al-Imad: The Leader of the Two Victories" in conjunction with the second anniversary of the 2006 July war, which they refer to as their "divine victory." In the exhibit, heavy tribute was paid to Imad Mughnieh, a senior commander of Hezbollah's military wing who was assassinated in Damascus in February. Hezbollah blames Israel for the assassination and has vowed to avenge his death. The exhibit features Israeli weaponry, both captured and destroyed during Hezbollah's fight against Israeli occupation of the south, which ended in 2000, after an Israeli pullout, as well as tanks and munitions caputured during the 2006 July War...

  • 8/20/2009 South Lebanon.Hezbollah Mahdi Scout activities in South Lebanon. ..Credit: Bryan Denton

  • 8/20/2009 South Lebanon.Hezbollah Mahdi Scout activities in South Lebanon. ..Credit: Bryan Denton

  • 8/30/2008 Ryak, Lebanon.An honor guard bearing the Mahdi Scout flag stands at attention at a Mahdi Scout Graduation ceremony at "Scout City" in Lebanon's Beka'a valley...The Imam al-Mahdi Scouts are one of Hezbollah's many social programs in Lebanon. Originally founded in 1985, the youth-centered scout program includes both boys and girls, and counts at least 40,000 members in it's ranks, divided into the classifications of Cub, Scout, and Ranger. Although the Mahdi Scouts are part of the Lebanese Scouting Federation, and thereby The World Organization of the Scout Movement, it is believed by some intelligence services that the Mahdi Scouts serve as a recruiting tool for Hezbollah's armed wing, filtering out potential fighters based on their discipline and religious devotion, as well as initiating the male Scouts and Rangers into basic military training. In contrast to these accusations, much of the Mahdi Scouts visible activities center around intense religious education, outdoor activities, arts and crafts, performances, as well as community based social assistance and service similar to those practiced by scout movements around the world...

  • 10/16/2008 Nabatyeh, Lebanon.Hezbollah Sheikh Mohammad Qanso (L) talks to a boy who attends religious classes at his Mosque...The Hajj Ali family live in a comfortable house overlooking the hills surrounding Nabatyeh. Their bakery, which provides Ka'ak and other breads for bakeries in Nabatyeh, sits underneath the home in their building. Both were destroyed during the 2006 war by an Israeli bomb dropped from the air, and were rebuilt with assistance and money from Hezbollah's social services programs...

  • 8/30/2008 Ryak, Lebanon.Graduating Hezbollah Mahdi Scouts salute as dignitaries, including Nazil Fatih, General Secretary of the Mahdi Scouts, at "Scout City" in Lebanon's Beka'a valley...The Imam al-Mahdi Scouts are one of Hezbollah's many social programs in Lebanon. Originally founded in 1985, the youth-centered scout program includes both boys and girls, and counts at least 40,000 members in it's ranks, divided into the classifications of Cub, Scout, and Ranger. Although the Mahdi Scouts are part of the Lebanese Scouting Federation, and thereby The World Organization of the Scout Movement, it is believed by some intelligence services that the Mahdi Scouts serve as a recruiting tool for Hezbollah's armed wing, filtering out potential fighters based on their discipline and religious devotion, as well as initiating the male Scouts and Rangers into basic military training. In contrast to these accusations, much of the Mahdi Scouts visible activities center around intense religious education, outdoor activities, arts and crafts, performances, as well as community based social assistance and service similar to those practiced by scout movements around the world...

  • 8/20/2009 South Lebanon.Hezbollah Mahdi Scout activities in South Lebanon. ..Credit: Bryan Denton

  • 10/01/2008 Nabatyeh, Lebanon.

  • 8/20/2009 South Lebanon.Hezbollah Mahdi Scout activities in South Lebanon. ..Credit: Bryan Denton

  • 8/20/2009 South Lebanon.Hezbollah Mahdi Scout activities in South Lebanon. ..Credit: Bryan Denton

  • 8/20/2009 South Lebanon.Hezbollah Mahdi Scout activities in South Lebanon. ..Credit: Bryan Denton


  • 9/23/2008 Beirut, Lebanon.A devout young Hezbollah supporter reads the Kor'an and prays at a "Laylat al-Qadr" ceremony held in the Hezbollah controlled southern suburbs of Beirut, Tuesday...Shi'ite supporters of the Hezbollah gathered on Tuesday, September 23 at the Mujama' Sayyed Shuhada--a large hall maintained by the Lebanese Shi'ite movement--to mark "Laylat al-Qadr" or the Night of Destiny, when it is said that the Prophet Mohammad wrote the Kor'an as it was dictated to him by the Angel Gabriel. Thousands of men and women gathered together, under banners carrying slogans in support of Hezbollah, praying and reading the Kor'an together until the early hours of the morning. Youth between the ages of 13-25 far outnumbered those of older generations, often times standing and passionately reading from their Kor'ans...

  • 9/23/2008 Beirut, Lebanon.A young Hezbollah supporter reads the Kor'an and prays at a "Laylat al-Qadr" or "The Night of Destiny" ceremony held in a Hezbollah convention center in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Tuesday...Shi'ite supporters of the Hezbollah gathered on Tuesday, September 23 at the Mujama' Sayyed Shuhada--a large hall maintained by the Lebanese Shi'ite movement--to mark "Laylat al-Qadr" or the Night of Destiny, when it is said that the Prophet Mohammad wrote the Kor'an as it was dictated to him by the Angel Gabriel. Thousands of men and women gathered together, under banners carrying slogans in support of Hezbollah, praying and reading the Kor'an together until the early hours of the morning. Youth between the ages of 13-25 far outnumbered those of older generations, often times standing and passionately reading from their Kor'ans...

  • 8/26/2008 Nabatye, Lebanon.A young Lebanese boy looks at captured Israeli weaponry and clothing in a display case, at the "Al-Imad: The Leader of the Two Victores" exhibit in Nabatye, Tuesday...Hezbollah opened an exhibit in Nabatye, Lebanon this August titled "Al-Imad: The Leader of the Two Victories" in conjunction with the second anniversary of the 2006 July war, which they refer to as their "divine victory." In the exhibit, heavy tribute was paid to Imad Mughnieh, a senior commander of Hezbollah's military wing who was assassinated in Damascus in February. Hezbollah blames Israel for the assassination and has vowed to avenge his death. The exhibit features Israeli weaponry, both captured and destroyed during Hezbollah's fight against Israeli occupation of the south, which ended in 2000, after an Israeli pullout, as well as tanks and munitions caputured during the 2006 July War...

  • 12/02/2007 El-Khiam, Lebanon.Ali, 13 (R), and Mohamad, 11 (L), both Mahdi Scouts, photographed at the groups el-Khiam chapter, Sunday...The Mahdi Scouts are a Hezbollah sponsored youth group similar to other boy-scout programs around the world. The Scouts, who wear uniforms depending on their rank, include boys and girls between the ages of 4-16, and they participate in a variety of youth activities including performances and Charity work. While Hezbollah denies a direct link between the Mahdi Scouts and it's armed militia, it is commonly believed the smartest and best of the young men in the organization are groomed to become Hezbollah fighters. Weekend activities include parades, performaces by costumed characters to the speeches of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and planting of trees in the community by adolescent Scouts...

  • 8/20/2009 South Lebanon.Hezbollah Mahdi Scout activities in South Lebanon. ..Credit: Bryan Denton

  • 1/10/2007 Beirut, Lebanon.A young Hezbollah supporter takes a break from demonstrations to pray during civil unrest in the Lebanese capital in January, 2007...

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