On Wednesday, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has named Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem as his “representative” in Lebanon. Tasnim carried a copy of the official decree which said Qassem will represent Khamenei in handling “non-litigious matters” and “managing religious affairs” in Lebanon.
The Leader announced that Sheikh Naim Qassem will represent him in handling financial matters, receiving and distributing religious funds either in the form of zakat or atonement, and managing religious affairs. Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam and an annual obligation on all Muslims to pay a tiny portion of their earnings and wealth for charitable purposes.
Previously, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who was assassinated in an Israeli airstrike on southern Beirut in September 27 last year had held the position. Hezbollah is part of the “axis of resistance”, an alliance of Iran-backed armed groups opposed to Israel and its US ally.
Khamenei, who has the final say in all matters of state in Iran, has representatives in all of Iran’s provinces with a mandate to collect religious funds and perform other duties.
Qassem was named Hezbollah leader in October after heir apparent Hashem Safieddine was killed in an Israeli strike shortly after Nasrallah’s death.
Hezbollah is to hold a public funeral for both Nasrallah and Safieddine on February 23. It had put off public commemorations for safety reasons until after a fragile ceasefire with Israel took hold on November 27
