Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street

Syrian gov. accused of imposing 'Islamist agenda' in school education

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Financial Times
  • 3 Jan 2025 14:13
4 Min Read

Outrage has erupted after the new Syrian government introduced changes to several school subjects, prompting accusations of promoting an "Islamist agenda."

Listen
  • x
  • Members of the security forces of the newly formed Syrian government stand on an armored vehicle in Homs, Syria, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (AP)
    Members of the security forces of the newly formed Syrian government stand on an armored vehicle in Homs, Syria, on January 2, 2025. (AP)

Syria's new government is facing backlash and accusations of imposing an Islamist agenda on school students after reviewing and establishing an updated educational curriculum. 

Outrage erupted this week after the Syrian Ministry of Education released 12 documents detailing revisions and omissions in schoolbooks covering Arabic literature, history, sciences, social studies, and religion. 

Most of the changes involved erasing references to the regimes of ousted president Bashar al-Assad and his father, Hafez, which included removing photos and mentions of the army and national anthem. 

However, authorities sparked further concern by eliminating references to pre-Islamic deities—along with the term "deities" itself—and reducing criticism of the Ottoman Empire. Other omissions included the text of Syria's citizenship law, a section on the evolution of vertebrate brains, and mentions of Zenobia, the renowned pre-Islamic queen of ancient Palmyra.

Critics fear that Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) is attempting to impose its religious views on what has long been considered one of the most secular countries in the Middle East. "The erasure of the defunct regime’s glorification is understandable, but deleting historical facts and events from our people’s struggle, and milestones of ancient civilizations. . . [is] not a coincidence," wrote Rima Flihan, a Syrian writer and human rights activist. 

Bassam al-Kuwatli, president of the anti-Assad Syrian Liberal Party (Ahrar), criticized the caretaker government for implementing significant ideological changes without urgency. While he agreed that removing Assad’s legacy is uncontroversial, he emphasized that reforms should be handled by expert committees. 

What did the current government change?

Amid widespread backlash, Education Minister Nazir al-Qadri clarified that the current curriculum would remain until committees are formed to review the schoolbooks. In the meantime, he ordered the removal of content glorifying the Assad regime and replaced the old Syrian flag with the opposition flag.

Related News

Tensions ease in Sweida as all detainees released amid mediation

Fierce clashes breakout in Syria's Sweida, leading to displacement

He further stated that authorities would also modify “some of the incorrect information . . . in the Islamic education curriculum”, including the interpretation of Quranic verses.

Moreover, religious studies, a compulsory subject in Syrian schools, includes separate books for Muslims and Christians. One change, made in a first-grade Islamic Studies textbook, involved an interpretation of a Quranic verse referring to "those who have earned [Allah’s] anger" and "gone astray" as referring to "Christians and Jews." 

In the first-grade science book, the term "nature’s bounty" was replaced with "Allah’s bounty." Additionally, in a 12th-grade history book, a sentence about the notorious 1916 mass execution of Arab nationalists by the Ottomans—commemorated as a public holiday in Syria and Lebanon—was removed.

Both conservative and non-conservative Syrians criticized the recent amendments, with many expressing their anger on the Ministry of Education's Facebook post. Comments included complaints about the incitement of Jews and Christians and objections to the removal of Syria’s history. 

Bassam al-Kuwatli warned that such unilateral changes could deepen societal divisions, stressing that this was the last thing Syria needed at a time when unity and disarmament were crucial.

Syrians remain concerned about extremist factions within HTS

Reuters reported that Christian leaders in Syria are urging their communities to minimize Christmas celebrations this year, despite reassurances from the new regime leadership that religious freedom will be respected.

Ahmad al-Sharaa, the de facto leader of HTS and the new Syrian regime, has attempted to project a more moderate image, swapping militant rhetoric for diplomacy.

He told Western officials and minority groups that his government would refrain from targeting Alawites, Christians, and other minorities. Yet, many Christians remain unconvinced of these promises of security and coexistence. Moreover, skepticism persists among Syrians regarding the new leadership’s ability to contain the group’s radical elements.  

Al-Masri, a Damascus resident who provided only his last name, acknowledged that the new authorities have largely maintained order in Damascus and elsewhere. However, he voiced concerns that this stability might be short-lived. 

“We know that Hay'at Tahir al-Sham is trying to change, and we welcome that," he told VOA.

"But there are two things that people in my circle are really concerned about. One is how genuine al-Sharaa is, and the other is how much control he really has over the more radical people in his group," al-Masri indicated.

  • Syria
  • Syrian Government
  • Minorities
  • Hayat Tahrir al-Sham

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS