Iraqi school textbooks scrutinized over antisemitism, Shi'ization

• Published date: 20 March 2024
• Author: OHAD MERLIN
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

The report delved into the portrayal of history, language, and religious education, which echoed narratives prevalent during Saddam Hussein's reign, with limited coverage of events post-1958, indicating a deliberate framing of historical contexts

While aiming to strike a balance between Iraqi, Kurdish, and Arab identities, the textbooks exhibit biases and contradictions, particularly in their treatment of religious minorities. The curriculum appears to navigate a delicate balance between acknowledging diversity and perpetuating sectarian tensions.

The report emphasized the textbooks' portrayals of religious and ethnic groups, notably Jews, who are depicted in a deeply negative light, while their historical contributions and sufferings are conspicuously absent. Moreover, the curriculum's approach to regional conflicts, particularly the Arab-Israeli conflict, reflects a staunch and not surprising anti-Israel stance, perpetuating hostility and disregarding peace efforts.

An intricate web of narratives

The study sheds light on the intricate web of narratives shaping Iraq's educational landscape since the 2003 US Coalition invasion. Amidst competing ideologies and historical legacies, the challenge remains to reconcile diverse identities and narratives within the curriculum, ultimately influencing societal perceptions and national cohesion.

In all textbooks examined, "Israel" was not mentioned even once, rather it is called "Zionist entity" or "Zionist imperialism". Conspiracy theories are also present, such as a 9th-grade text that accuses Zionism of being a racist, expansionist ideology aiming to spread from the Nile to the Euphrates, or that Zionists started to use the name Jerusalem rather than Al-Quds only after the 1967 war.

Jews as a group are portrayed as plotters against Islam and its prophet Muhammad. The battles against the Jewish tribes of the Arabian Peninsula are commended. In a Grade 8 lesson, Jews are portrayed negatively as corrupt, tyrannical, deviant, and even as infidels. The same textbook also includes a story of a Jew selling water to Muslims at inflated...