I’m coming across more and more of these scouting groups. Almost every large Twelver Shia Islamic community in Canada I’ve looked at has some form of group modelled after Hezbollah’s Al-Mahdi Scouts.
The first one I posted about falls under the BPSA scouting organization. The latest one I’m looking at; Al-Huda Scouts in Scarborough, falls under Scouts Canada (some of the kids wear Scouts Canada patch and some don’t). There are other groups which might not have any affiliation with a scouting organization.
My concern is not with scouting activities themselves — the outdoor skills, teamwork, and character development are beneficial for any youth program, regardless of race or religion. The issue lies in the ideological inspiration drawn from Hezbollah-linked scouting groups in Lebanon, pro-Iranian regime indoctrination, and teachings that emphasize ‘resistance’, submission to divine authority in a political context, and sacrifice/martyrdom.
1/4 In Ottawa, there is a Shia Muslim scouting group called the Amir Al-Mu’mineen Scouts (also known as Al Amir Scouts or Ahlul-Bayt Scouts).
It serves boys and girls ages 5–18 and operates under the BPSA Canada scouting framework. Activities include camping, hiking, first aid, outdoor skills — and military-style drill — alongside a heavy focus on religious education.