When Ahmed al-Sharaa became Syria’s new president in January 2025, he continued doing what he had done as the leader of a jihad group: persecuting religious minorities. The content of post-Assad schoolbooks is a testament to the utter naivety of the West, many of whose leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, apparently thought that a former al-Qaeda leader who collaborated with the Islamic State (ISIS) to commit heinous atrocities could somehow change into a suit and tie and reform. In addition to the naive, the general embrace of this barbarian leader also exposes the utter deceit of many who knew better, but had an axe to grind with al-Assad, and so supported al-Sharaa.
See al-Sharaa’s background HERE.
“Syria’s Post-Assad Schoolbooks Promote Jihad, Antisemitism, Islamist Ideology,” by Ailin Vilches Arguello, Algemeiner, October 2026:
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa attends the Ministry of Awqaf conference titled “Unity of Islamic Discourse” at the Conference Palace in Damascus, Syria, Feb. 16, 2026. Photo: REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi
Syria’s education system is embracing a new Islamist direction following the fall of the Assad regime, with school materials glorifying jihad and martyrdom and perpetuating antisemitic stereotypes despite the new government’s stated commitment to peace, tolerance, and inclusion, according to a new study.
The Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-se), a nonprofit organization that analyzes schoolbooks and curricula worldwide, released a new study on Monday examining Syria’s educational materials, analyzing 130 textbooks for grades 1–12 used in the 2025–2026 school year and retained for 2026–2027 and comparing them with textbooks published under the Assad regime between 2011 and 2023.
IMPACT-se’s findings reveal a major ideological shift in Syria’s curriculum since President Ahmed al-Sharaa took power following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, with the new textbooks replacing the former regime’s pan-Arab nationalist narrative with an Islamist worldview that glorifies jihad and martyrdom….
DMP67 says
Why is anyone surprised? Same thing in America at the tax supported Islamic schools in the US
somehistory says
And it’s no surprise that muzzies in Western nations are trying for the same thing.
Rob Porter says
I am very happy that at the outset of Ahmed al-Sharaa’s rule in Syria on websites I scathingly criticized the pathetically misguided acceptance of this al-Qaeda/ISIS savage by Donald Trump and the cowardly and fairy-minded Emanuel Macron of France.
This al-Sharaa acceptance was inspired by the greasy Saudi Prince bin Salman. Suddenly Trump lifted the $10 million U.S. bounty on al-Sharra. So were sanctions on Syria. Why? Meanwhile in Syria, hidden from world view, thousands of Alawites, Druze, Christians, Yazidis had been and were being murdered with utmost savagery by al-Sharaa’s Muslims, their mutilated bodies stacked up like so much lumber – and this posted on the internet for Muslim entertainment! (If you live in Canada you never learned of this through the Canadian media!). A little time later Donald Trump insanely suggested that al-Sharaa and his worthless Muslim savages would do a better of subduing Hezbollah in Lebanon than would Benjamin Netanyahu and the IDF. On tv I watched him say this. His insult to Netanyahu was stunning.
Since his newly created civilized status, al-Sharaa has been welcomed in Paris, in Germany and the Oval Office in Washington. Moral standards have fallen to an all-time low when a murdering Islamic barbarian, after cutting his hair, cropping his beared, having a bath or shower and putting on a Western-style suite, in Western capital is treated like an all-conquering hero. And I am supposed to believe that God does not see this moral collapse, the cruelty concealed, and decide that there will will be consequences.
Karen Dowden says
President Trump was A ‘SUCKER’ for Al Shaara’s lies and facade. I do not understand how he cn believe what the put out. He has no clue about the true nature of Islam. He still thinks wstern style negotiation will do the trick. He needs someone in the administration who can give them sessions on Islam. This situation is sad and troubling.
Wellington says
President Trump still doesn’t know enough about Islam (if anyone thinks he does, I would be interested in their dialectic arguing such). His instincts are pretty good but in the knowledge area he is still deficient respecting this “topic.” And then I have to wonder about others in his Administration like Vance, Rubio, Patel, Hegseth, et al. What do they really know about the only major religion which is also a totalitarian ideology and which religion is utterly incompatible with many of the freedoms that are guaranteed in the Constitution?
Well, whatever defects Trump and his associates have respecting proper knowledge of Islam, one thing is for certain and that is that the Democratic Party is in full cooperation mode with Muslims and their totalitarian religion, which is rather fitting since the modern Democratic Party has, effectively, become enthralled with totalitarian tenets and the examples of such are plentiful, a very recent one being Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan stating that young people had better be careful aligning themselves with the Trump Administration lest they be prosecuted for doing so later on.
Perilous times. Trump still doesn’t grasp Islam fully enough and Democrats are just fine making alliances with Muslims right here in the US.
All of which is yet one more lesson in how fragile freedom is and why constant vigilance, including very accurate knowledge, is an imperative if freedom is to survive. Looking rather shaky now to say the least. Oh, btw, I of course detest Islam but I am also appalled by continued ignorance of Islam by dhimmis aplenty, you know, “the vilest of creatures” (Sura 98:6).
Karen Dowden says
Extremely well laid out. I keep saying that President Trump does not at all understand Islam. What I do not fathom is why would he not hire/include someone to be in his administration who does. There are many he can chose from*. This is so important There needs to be a group that can peruse information and advise regarding whatever comes out of Muslim nations and the Middle East and provide sound assessment/analysis. Sad, I do not think this will happen.
*Choices can include Robert Spencer, Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Just 2 at the top of my head.
Siddhi Nasranni says
Well said Wellington, I too am shocked that President Trump was not briefed on the ins & outs
of Islam.
Your quote, ” Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan stating that young people had better be careful aligning themselves with the Trump Administration lest they be prosecuted for doing so later on.!!
Stupid me, I thought that you in the USA lived in a Democracy, how wrong I am.
Its the same same madness here in the UK.
gravenimage says
But who would he be briefed by? Most. like Robert Spencer, who used to brief governmental agencies on the threat of Islam, have long since been ousted–or even silenced.
JR says
No surprise …. these people are not like us. Their values are very different – and trying to make them think like western liberals is the trite like ‘teaching pigs to fly’. Apparently, most Arabs are happy to be treated thusly – so let them be – as long as they don’t invade, murder, and plunder others.
gravenimage says
Syria: New schoolbooks promote jihad and Islamic antisemitism
…………………………………………………..
How is that possible? Surely anyone who opposed Assad must ergo be civilized and pro-democracy. sarc/off
BOB says
I thought I read this was all agreed to and the books weee changed last year. He’s trumps friend. I don’t know where I read that. I watchied him on tv at the White House with Trump . I assume the guy didn’t barge in without the right changes . I even heard ten thousand jihad migrants from Syria are heading to Yemen. Think about it. They’ll take over and begin a country.
gravenimage says
Al Sharaa is a Jihad terrorist, who is now presiding over the murder of Christians, Alawites, and Shia in Syria. The idea these are the “right changes” is grotesque. He is *far worse* than was Assad.
But many–including Turmp–assumed that because he was opposed to Assad–who was indeed a dictator–means that he must have been pro-democracy. This is deeply foolish, but is a common mistaken among Westerners.
My post, above, was sarcastic.
Bob says
Yea, that’s what the Korean tells them to do. Jihad terrorist. If what you say is true and Trump is wrong, than this must be all taqiya and nothing else. And guess what. Trumps free plane from qatar was also a taqiya play. Erdogan , a most dangerous of all the Islamists, more than Iran, is also doing a taqiya on Trump. Trumps deal with Hamas, even calling terrorists on the phone, is Laquita.
All this together leads me to simply believe Trump has had the wool pulled over his eyes by the Islamists. My grandson is in the Air Force and well knowledgeable about what’s what. He tells that Trump will give Erdogan the lord of the rings, f35. That is the stamp on my theory, Trump is vulnerable to taqiya, just like Pakistan tricked trump, the dirtiest Muslims of them all. If these simple tricksters can fool trumps, well we must wonder what we don’t know where the Muslims got him and it’s a secret.
gravenimage says
Generally agree, Bob. One small point: the Islamic “holy book” is the Koran (or Qur’an), not “Korean”.
Jeffrey Sanow says
To learn about the true history of Damascus, which goes back literally to the beginning of time, read “Damascus City of Shadows”. It explains why Damascus is the second most important city to Christianity and arguably the second most important city in the Middle East politics. Available on Amazon.