Syria. New “Islamist” school curriculum

The list of changes to the curriculum was published by the Syrian Ministry of Education on January 1 on Facebook. As described by CNN, it shows that some chapters of the books were completely removed, including, for example, the chapter on the origin of life and evolution.

According to the station, the list also includes phrases indicating an ultra-conservative interpretation of the Quran. For example, the phrase “the good path” was replaced by “the Islamic path”, and the phrase “those who are condemned and have gone astray” was replaced by “Jews and Christians”. The word “martyr” was also redefined from meaning “someone who died for the homeland” to “someone who sacrificed himself for God's sake.”

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According to CNN, although the changes that distanced themselves from the regime of Bashar al-Assad, which was overthrown in December, were well received on social media, outrage was caused by religious issues. In the comments under the ministry's entry, some people wonder why such changes are being made by a government that is only temporary, while others believe that it is an attempt to “erase” elements of the country's history. Some people considered certain phrases “Islamist”.

In response to public reactions, in a statement Education Minister Nazir Mohammad al-Qadri said his office only ordered “the removal of content glorifying the Assad regime and replacing images of the regime's flags with flags of the Syrian revolution in all textbooks.” He added that this also involved correcting some “inaccuracies” in the curriculum, such as “an erroneous interpretation of some verses of the Quran.”

The changes announced by the ministry are to apply to all students aged 6 to 18. However, officials assure that they will enter into force only after they are assessed by special commissions.

The current Syrian government is headed by Ahmed al-Shara (Abu Muhamad al-Jaulani), the leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). On December 8, Syrian rebels led by HTS announced the overthrow of the Bashar al-Assad regime, who reigned in Syria for the last 24 years.

Al-Shara was a member of al-Qaeda and also collaborated with the Islamic State. His group remains recognized, among others. By USA and the European Union as a terrorist group, and he is on the US list of most wanted “global terrorists”. Since 2016, he has been emphasizing his moderate viewsbreaking with the ideology of global jihad and committing to the goal of changing the power in his homeland, i.e. Syria.

The interim government is to rule until elections are organized, which, according to the new leader, may take up to four years to prepare.

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