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Nasrallah calls on public school teachers to end strike

Nasrallah calls on public school teachers to end strike

Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah. (Credit: NNA)

BEIRUT — "I call for the continuation of the school year," Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah said Thursday, urging striking teachers in Lebanon's public sector to return to work like their colleagues who did so on Monday, ending a strike they had been observing since January.

Public sector teachers have been hit hard hit by Lebanon's more than three-year-old economic crisis and are demanding improved salaries and working conditions.

In a televised speech broadcast live on the occasion of the celebration of an educational association affiliated to the Shiite party, the Hezbollah leader said that "the majority of strikers" have returned to work. "I ask the rest of the teachers to accompany the future generations [in the classroom]."

For its part, "the government must keep its promises so as not to give a pretext for maintaining the strike," he continued. "I say to the teachers: certainly, what the government has given you is insufficient, but you must make the balance in view of the current situation."

Despite the lifting of the strike on Monday, many teachers announced their intention to boycott classes. The prolonged strike in public education had prompted the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to warn of "significant and persistent damage to children's learning, mental and physical well-being, and safety."

On Wednesday, public school teachers demonstrated in Saida, South Lebanon, challenging the decision to lift the strike and demanding social benefits and an improved salaries. Since the lifting of the strike was decided on Monday, demonstrations contesting the decision have been held daily.

'Demonic' homosexuality

During his speech on schools and education, the leader of Hezbollah also denounced an "attempt to change our culture, led by the West."

He took the opportunity to attack the LGBTQ+ community, saying, "The culture of homosexuality is very influential and comes from the United States. It is not only demonic, it has real effects."

He then seamlessly went on to address "the problem of drugs in schools."

"The one who sells and buys drugs is part of the worst kind of human being in the world," he said, stating that oriental societies must preserve themselves and "build an immunity against all these problems."

BEIRUT — "I call for the continuation of the school year," Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah said Thursday, urging striking teachers in Lebanon's public sector to return to work like their colleagues who did so on Monday, ending a strike they had been observing since January.Public sector teachers have been hit hard hit by Lebanon's more than three-year-old economic crisis and are...