Four leaders at Mi’raj Scouts Academy in Kogarah have openly mourned the death of designated terrorist Nasrallah

Concerns have been raised after Mi’raj Scouts Academy group leader Mohamed Dhaini and three teachers openly mourned the death of designated terrorist Hassan Nasrallah.

An Islamic scout group operated by four leaders with extremist views who have praised slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has drawn condemnation from Jewish leaders concerned their beliefs are influencing young members.

Group leader Mohamed Dhaini and scouts teachers Ali Al Haj, Abed Alhussein Mourtada and Abed Almajeed Mourtada are four leaders and volunteers with the Mi’raj Scouts Academy in Kogarah, South West Sydney, who have openly mourned the death of designated terrorist Nasrallah.

It is not suggested all 30 leaders and volunteers at Mi’raj Scouts Academy share the opinions of the four.

Jewish leaders have raised concern over how the young scouts, aged 5-16, are being influenced by the “scholars” whose mission, they insist, is to “recruit members into their religion”.

The group is an academy for 230 scouts – which is not member of Scouts Australia or Scouts NSW – is run by Miraj Institute which is affiliated to the Alsadeq Arabic Association (AAA), a recipient of a $33,600 Home Affairs grant to strengthen cohesion and improve language skills in Australia.

Mir'aj Scouts Academy scholar Mohamed Dhianii mourned the death of Hassan Nasrallah.

Scout group leaders insist they have “nothing to hide” despite Dhaini mourning Nasrallah, saying on his personal Instagram post: “In this a longer than usual video I open up to a friend about how Sayyid Hassan’s (Nasrallah) martyrdom impacted me like nothing else and why it’s our time to step up.”

He is also pictured on August 23 last year with young men waving the green and yellow Hezbollah flag on a visit to Iraq with his personal development group, The Tribe Where Everyman Belongs.

Mohamed Dhan (second left) with men waving the green and yellow Hezbollah flag with members of his personal development group, The Tribe Where Everyman Belongs, in Iraq on August 23, 2024.

He blames Jews for disunity in Islam on his YouTube channel, saying: “It was by design to create this disunity because if the Muslims did not have this disunity then there is no way that the Jewish world would have survived for centuries as it did – the only way it survived is through creating this disunity.”

Scout teacher Ali Al Haj has referred to Hezbollah as “Men of God” at a town hall rally seen on TikTok on September 29, 2024, and praised the October 7 atrocities, saying it is just the beginning – “what began as a flood (Al Aqsa flood) ... will drag you to the deepest pits of hell.”

He asked followers to pray for the safety of the current Hezbollah leader on personal Instagram.

Haj, a self-described poet, said on his social media about the October 7 attack on Israel “it takes a lot of bloodshed for a watershed moment”.

Religious scouts leader Abed Alhussein Mourtada posted he will follow Nasrallah’s path after his death.

Ali Al Haj referred to Hezbollah as “Men of God” at a town hall rally in September.

Ali Al Haj praised the October 7 atrocities, saying it is “just the beginning”.

“We will continue on this path, even if we are all killed. We will not abandon the path of resistance. (The martyr Sayed Hassan) … We cry because we are human and have emotions, but we are strong.”

Scout religious leader and teacher Abed Almajeed Mourtada said on his Instagram: “Western governments must understand our Sayed is more than a resistance leader.

“You may disagree with the resistance, but do you oppose honouring his efforts to promote Islamic teachings like avoiding violence, drugs, and promoting Muslim unity? If so, is that not discrimination.”

Separately he said in a video speaking in Arabic about bout Nasrallah: “We assert to him, our master, our beloved, and our guide, that all the spilled blood will not be in vain. We will continue the path and we will not step back or hesitate.”

Abed Mourtada insisted the scout academy had “nothing to hide.”

“We are just scholars who have studied and are calling people to join our religion – we are not harming anyone at all,” he said

Al Haj said on his social media about the October 7 attack on Israel “it takes a lot of bloodshed for a watershed moment.”

Scout religious leader and teacher Abed Almajeed Mourtada said on his personal Instagram: “Western governments must understand our Sayed is more than a resistance leader”.

Dhaini, Al Haj, Alhussein Mourtada and Almajeed Mourtada have been contacted for comment.

The Australian Jewish Association said it was “seriously concerned” about the scout academy and called for an investigation.

“Scouts supports young people in their personal development and empowers them to make a positive contribution to society,“ AJA CEO Robert Gregory said.

“Any connection with Islamic fundamentalism is very concerning. Australians should be alarmed if Scouts leaders are praising terrorist groups or promoting radical Islamist content.

Abed Almajeed Mourtada said about Nasrallah: “We assert to him, our master, our beloved, and our guide, that all the spilled blood will not be in vain. We will continue the path and we will not step back or hesitate.”

“There needs to be an investigation into the extremism which is festering in our suburbs.

“Adults in positions of Scouts leadership have great influence over children. There is a real concern that vulnerable children may be influenced by these extremist views.”

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said: “Hezbollah is an organisation that conducts terror operations using cells throughout the world to hit non-military targets including community centres, planes and embassies.

“It is deeply disturbing to have Hezbollah supporters in our city. This goes to the heart of public safety and national security and it requires a strong police response. It is profoundly concerning to know that there are people in our country who support the aims of this murderous organisation.”

Scouts Australia said: “Scouts NSW is not affiliated nor connected with this group in any way, shape or form. We make no further comment.”

The Office of Home Affairs said the Community Language Schools Grants Program grant was awarded to the AAA was agreed before Tony Burke was made minister and checks and balances were in place.

“The Alsadeq Arabic Association (AAA) has been funded under the Community Language Schools Grants Program to support young Australians to acquire a second language,” a Home Affairs spokesperson said.

“This activity commenced in June 2024 and is scheduled to be completed in December 2025.

“The Community Language Schools Grants (CLSG) aims to strengthen the cohesion and prosperity of Australia’s successful multicultural society by supporting more young Australians to acquire a second language.

“Under the grant guidelines, there are measures in place to ensure funding is used for the specific purpose of teaching languages, and the grant is monitored through an agreed reporting and financial acquittal process.”

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Originally published as Four leaders at Mi’raj Scouts Academy in Kogarah have openly mourned the death of designated terrorist Nasrallah