Syria’s transitional government, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) – the offshoot of Al Qaeda in Syria – has sparked outrage with sweeping changes to the country’s school curriculum. These amendments, implemented under the newly appointed Minister of Education Nazir al-Qadri, have shifted the curriculum from a nationalist and moderate perspective to a more extremist interpretation of Islam and Syrian history. Critics argue these changes amount to an erasure of Syria’s cultural and historical identity, while endangering the safety of minorities, all under the guise of removing references to the Assad government.

Historical Erasures and Political Motivations

One of the most controversial changes involves the removal of terms like “Ottoman injustice” and “brutal Ottoman rule,” as well as any mention of Ottoman “occupation” in Syria. Key historical events, such as the execution of Syrian and Lebanese nationalists on May 6, 1916, by Ottoman wāli Jamal Pasha, have also been omitted. This event, known as the Martyrs of May 6th, is a significant moment in Arab nationalist history and is commemorated annually in Syria and Lebanon. 

Critics suggest these omissions may aim to appease Turkish sentiments, given Turkey’s documented support for the Syrian opposition throughout the over a decade long NATO-Gulf backed regime change war on Syria. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been instrumental in shaping the new Syrian constitution and reportedly influencing this government, raising concerns about its autonomy and integrity.

Other historical changes include the removal of female figures like Queen Zenobia of Palmyra and Khawla bint al-Azwar, a revered Muslim warrior now dismissed as a fictional character. The term “1973 Liberation War” has also been reduced to “1973 War,” downplaying Syria’s role in the Arab-Israeli conflict and erasing any historical context of prior hostilities with Israel. These changes align with HTS’s apparent efforts to normalize relations with Israel. In a recent statement, the Governor of Damascus, Maher Marwan, remarked, “Our problem is not with Israel,” adding that the new regime would refrain from “meddling in anything that will threaten Israel’s security.”

Religious and Scientific Changes

Changes to Islamic teachings have also drawn criticism for promoting divisive and extremist interpretations. For example:

• “Brotherhood in humanity” has been replaced with “Brotherhood in faith.”
• The honorific for Imam Ali has been altered from “may God honor his face” to “may God be pleased with him.”
• Quranic verses which were previously interpreted as “Those who have incurred wrath, and those who have gone astray”, are now taught as “Jews and Christians who deviated from the path of goodness.”
• Scientific study of the brain has been prohibited entirely.

These amendments, critics argue, undermine Syria’s traditionally inclusive and secular values.

Public Outcry and Official Response

The curriculum changes have ignited widespread public discontent. Many Syrians question why an interim government is making such profound amendments. “The current government is a caretaker government that does not have the right to make these amendments to the curricula,” one social media user commented on the ministry’s Facebook page. “The curricula must be amended in accordance with the new constitution.”

In response, Nazir al-Qadri downplayed the changes, claiming they were minor and focused primarily on “adopting images of the Syrian revolution flag” and correcting “incorrect explanations of Quranic verses.”

Syria’s de facto ruler and HTS leader, Abu Mohamad Al Julani – a former ISIS and Al Qaeda affiliate – recently announced writing a new constitution “may take about three years” and that “organizing elections may take four years.”

Fears for Syria’s Future

The amendments have exacerbated fears among Syria’s minority groups, including Christians, Shiites, and Alawites, many of whom began fleeing the country when HTS assumed power and formed an interim government. With former Al-Qaeda members occupying key ministerial positions, concerns about the government’s trajectory are mounting.

Despite these changes, resistance appears to be growing, as many Syrians remain deeply attached to their secular and diverse national heritage. The backlash highlights the tension between HTS’s vision for Syria and the population’s aspirations for an inclusive and pluralistic future.