Syria’s next generation is being taught a radically different...
Open Source Intel@Osint613
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Oct 22, 2026
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Syria’s next generation is being taught a radically different ideology.
A new IMPACT-se report examining 130 school textbooks under the al-Sharaa (Jolani) administration finds a sweeping shift from Arab nationalism toward Islamism.
Syrian Textbooks now glorify jihad, martyrdom and violence, with such material appearing as early as 4th grade.
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A new IMPACT-se report examining 130 school textbooks under the al-Sharaa (Jolani) administration finds a sweeping shift from Arab nationalism toward Islamism.
Syrian Textbooks now glorify jihad, martyrdom and violence, with such material appearing as early as 4th grade.
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The review compares each new textbook with the Assad-era edition that it replaced. The comparison here is the whole purpose of this thread.
Assad's face, flag, and slogans were scrubbed out almost completely. The jihad and martyrdom content was not. Most of it was kept.
Assad's face, flag, and slogans were scrubbed out almost completely. The jihad and martyrdom content was not. Most of it was kept.
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In places, it was made more religious.
First graders trace the meaning of the Quran's opening chapter. The old book said God's favored path belongs to "the prophets and the righteous."
The new edition adds the martyrs.
First graders trace the meaning of the Quran's opening chapter. The old book said God's favored path belongs to "the prophets and the righteous."
The new edition adds the martyrs.
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By eighth grade it's explicit.
The Assad-era book asked students to judge a classmate who won't donate to "the Palestinian Resistance."
The new book swaps in "the jihad fighters revolting in occupied Islamic countries" who stand up to "the enemies of the [Islamic] Nation."
The Assad-era book asked students to judge a classmate who won't donate to "the Palestinian Resistance."
The new book swaps in "the jihad fighters revolting in occupied Islamic countries" who stand up to "the enemies of the [Islamic] Nation."
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Resistance became jihad. Homeland became Ummah.
A fourth grade lesson called "Guarding for the Sake of God" teaches that "defending the homeland and holy places is a means of salvation from Hellfire."
The illustration: a soldier with a rifle beside the new Syrian flag.
A fourth grade lesson called "Guarding for the Sake of God" teaches that "defending the homeland and holy places is a means of salvation from Hellfire."
The illustration: a soldier with a rifle beside the new Syrian flag.
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The same lesson comes with a second picture. Palestinian children throwing stones at a tank marked with a Star of David.
Fourth graders write two lines on how these "Children of the Rocks" guard their country. Then they write a prayer for them.
Fourth graders write two lines on how these "Children of the Rocks" guard their country. Then they write a prayer for them.
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Then there is what the new government chose to keep.
Eighth graders read Quran 8:60, "prepare against them whatever you are able of power." Then the assignment:
"Write as many new weapons to wage war on the Zionist Enemy as you can."
Carried over unchanged from Assad.
Eighth graders read Quran 8:60, "prepare against them whatever you are able of power." Then the assignment:
"Write as many new weapons to wage war on the Zionist Enemy as you can."
Carried over unchanged from Assad.
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Fifth graders study a poem about Dalal al-Mughrabi. "She raised the banner of liberation. She was a sword; she was a flame."
Her 1978 Coastal Road attack killed 38 civilians, 12 of them children. The students' task is to present her to the class.
Her 1978 Coastal Road attack killed 38 civilians, 12 of them children. The students' task is to present her to the class.
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By twelfth grade it is doctrine. "Jihad is the pinnacle of Islam." "Every life ends with martyrdom in the path of God."
Today's jihad, per the book: "our people in the occupied Golan" and "the people of occupied Palestine." Students then weigh in on Palestinian fighters.
Today's jihad, per the book: "our people in the occupied Golan" and "the people of occupied Palestine." Students then weigh in on Palestinian fighters.
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History class covers the Second Intifada. The suicide bombings are "martyrdom operations which embarrassed the Zionist Enemy" and pushed Israel out of Gaza.
Rockets fired at Israeli towns in 2008 are credited with "exacting painful losses from the Enemy."
Rockets fired at Israeli towns in 2008 are credited with "exacting painful losses from the Enemy."
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Jews get their own treatment.
Sixth graders learn from the Battle of the Trench that "treason and backstabbing are among the traits of the Jews." A version of it comes back on the test as a true or false question.
IMPACT-se ranks it among the curriculum's most severe examples.
Sixth graders learn from the Battle of the Trench that "treason and backstabbing are among the traits of the Jews." A version of it comes back on the test as a true or false question.
IMPACT-se ranks it among the curriculum's most severe examples.
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It starts early. A second grade story about young Muhammad includes a warning to "keep him safe from the Jews."
By tenth grade, students read that Jews are "a mixture of peoples, not a single nation," and that today's Jews are "absolutely" not descendants of the ancient Hebrews.
By tenth grade, students read that Jews are "a mixture of peoples, not a single nation," and that today's Jews are "absolutely" not descendants of the ancient Hebrews.
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Israel is rarely called Israel. In sixth grade it's "the thieving Zionist Entity." In tenth, land "defiled by the filth of Zionist occupation."
In twelfth, Deir Yassin is "similar to the Nazi crimes against the Jews," quoting historian Arnold Toynbee.
In twelfth, Deir Yassin is "similar to the Nazi crimes against the Jews," quoting historian Arnold Toynbee.
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The most telling edit: ninth grade geography.
The old book listed the "stolen regions": Palestine, plus land held by Turkey and Iran. The new edition deletes Turkey and Iran. Palestine stays, and a new line names Israel.
Then: "How can one be rid of these artificial borders?"
The old book listed the "stolen regions": Palestine, plus land held by Turkey and Iran. The new edition deletes Turkey and Iran. Palestine stays, and a new line names Israel.
Then: "How can one be rid of these artificial borders?"
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On peace with Israel, the ninth grade history book adds a new sentence. Sadat signed Camp David, and "because of this, he was assassinated."
That line was not in the Assad-era book.
That line was not in the Assad-era book.
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And this is the national version.
An HTS-affiliated school network, Dar al-Wahy al-Sharif, teaches about 16,000 children across more than 70 institutions. IMPACT-se rates the state books as less Islamized than that network's, and calls them "a work in progress."
An HTS-affiliated school network, Dar al-Wahy al-Sharif, teaches about 16,000 children across more than 70 institutions. IMPACT-se rates the state books as less Islamized than that network's, and calls them "a work in progress."
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IMPACT-se's bottom line is: the curriculum "advocates prolonged confrontation with Israel more emphatically than ever before."
Al-Sharaa sold Washington that he was breaking from jihad, so the U.S. lifted sanctions. His schools are teaching the next generation the opposite.
This needs to be exposed.
Al-Sharaa sold Washington that he was breaking from jihad, so the U.S. lifted sanctions. His schools are teaching the next generation the opposite.
This needs to be exposed.
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Credit:
IMPACT-SE@IMPACT_SE
IMPACT-se has just published the first in-depth analysis of Syria’s school curriculum since the al-Sharaa administration came to power. The landmark report examines 130 textbooks for Grades 1–12, revealing how the new Syria is reshaping education for the next generation.
The findings show an ideological transformation from pan-Arab nationalism toward a pan-Islamist worldview: Jihad, martyrdom, and violence are glorified in materials for children as young as fourth grade. Meanwhile, Syria’s minorities are increasingly marginalized, scientific content covering evolution and the Big Bang Theory has been removed, and women are framed mainly as wives, mothers and depicted increasingly in Islamic dress.
As Syria’s new leadership signals continued openness to the international community, this analysis provides an important insight into the country’s political and social trajectory, and how the government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa may shape Syria.
Read the full report here:
impact-se.org/wp-content/upl…
The findings show an ideological transformation from pan-Arab nationalism toward a pan-Islamist worldview: Jihad, martyrdom, and violence are glorified in materials for children as young as fourth grade. Meanwhile, Syria’s minorities are increasingly marginalized, scientific content covering evolution and the Big Bang Theory has been removed, and women are framed mainly as wives, mothers and depicted increasingly in Islamic dress.
As Syria’s new leadership signals continued openness to the international community, this analysis provides an important insight into the country’s political and social trajectory, and how the government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa may shape Syria.
Read the full report here:
impact-se.org/wp-content/upl…
