Al-Julani says he has changed. So why is he teaching Syrian kids about hatred and matryrdom?

Despite the efforts of Syria’s new leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, known as Al-Julani, to project an image of renewal and openness to the West, a look at the new textbooks paints a completely different picture.

The Israeli research institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-se) has revealed alarming findings about the new Syrian curriculum under the president’s new regime. The research content was published this morning (Wednesday) on Kan Reshet Bet.

The institute’s in-depth analysis found that the new Syrian Ministry of Education has added significant Islamic content, focusing on narratives of martyrdom and self-sacrifice.

The changes include a positive portrayal of Turkey and the Ottoman Empire, while maintaining hostile rhetoric toward the West, depicting it as violent, bloodthirsty, and oppressive.

Also, scientific content such as various theories about the creation of the world has been removed, and female historical figures, as well as illustrations of women without head coverings, have been excluded. Antisemitic and anti-Israel content remains unchanged, while all traces of the Assad legacy have been erased.

In response, Arik Agasi, Vice President of the IMPACT-se research institute, met with senior officials in Brussels from the European Parliament and the European Union to make Europe is aware of the need for comprehensive reform in the current Syrian curriculum, according to the report.

The European Union is considered one of Syria’s largest financial backers and recently lifted sanctions on Syria following the rise of the new regime. Earlier this month, a massive fundraising event for Syria took place in the EU, attended by the Syrian Foreign Minister.

“We believe the international community must take action on education in Syria,” Agasi said. He added, “The European Union has already set a significant precedent by conditioning aid to the Palestinian Authority on textbook reform. That same precedent must apply to Syria, especially at a time when discussions are underway about injecting funds into the new regime and lifting sanctions from it.”