Muslim children in Houston, Texas, sang an Islamic religious song with lyrics swearing allegiance to Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader.
Mohammad Hanif Jazayeri, a London-based journalist of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, tweeted a video of the children singing. According to Jazayeri, Iran is "recruiting child soldiers in the U.S."
VIDEO: Iran recruiting child soldiers in
State media airs video of kids in Houston TX swearing allegiance to the regime's Supreme Leader Khamenei
They sing "Don't look at my young age" "I will be your soldier" "I make an oath. One day when you need me, I will be your martyr" pic.twitter.com/fYGZJOQ2es— M. Hanif Jazayeri (@HanifJazayeri) July 27, 2022
"Kids in Houston TX swearing allegiance to the regime's Supreme Leader Khamenei," Jazayeri tweeted.
He also described the song's lyrics by the children and several adults. "I make an oath. One day when you need me, I will be your martyr," Jazayeri explained in his tweet.
According to The Jerusalem Post, the song is called "Salam Farmande" (Hello Commander), released in 2021 by the Nation of Imam Hosayn.
According to the composers, the song is "a pledge of allegiance by young children." The music was composed "upon the recommendation of Khamenei," the composers explained.
The song is about Muhammad al-Mahdi, a figure believed by Twelver Shia Muslims to be the last imam. Muhammad al-Mahdi is supposed to "emerge at the end of time to establish peace and justice and redeem Islam."
The Persian version of the song has several references to the former Quds Force Commander, Qasem Soleimani, The Jerusalem Post reported.
In a follow-up tweet, Jazayeri explained that the children were filmed singing as part of a propaganda video. Muslim kids in Texas were "made to swear allegiance to the Iranian regime's Supreme Leader."
UPDATE There's evidence indicating that this propaganda video in which kids in Houston TX were made to swear allegiance to the Iranian regime's Supreme Leader was produced by the Islamic Education Center, 2313 S Voss Road
IEC has posted the film on its @facebook page
MORE BELOW pic.twitter.com/kVHEF6pnrZ— M. Hanif Jazayeri (@HanifJazayeri) July 28, 2022
Jazayeri added that the video was created by the Islamic Education Center (IEC), located in Houston, Texas. "IEC has posted the film on its Facebook page," he said.
ICE has since removed the video from its Facebook page.
Other sources of the video indicate that it was posted on a Youtube channel called Houston Azadari. The video was also removed from the Youtube channel.
Iranian news agencies also broadcasted the video and have constantly been promoting the song. Critics denounce Iran's action as propaganda that seeks to "recruit child soldiers and brainwash children."
