Middle East Archives - IMPACT-se https://impact-se.org/region/middle-east/ Worldwide News | Negative Influences | Tolerance Tue, 11 Aug 2026 05:10:01 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 https://impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/cropped-logo-IMPACT_SE-1-32x32.png Middle East Archives - IMPACT-se https://impact-se.org/region/middle-east/ 32 32 Review of the Jordanian Curriculum 2025-2026 https://impact-se.org/publication/review-of-the-jordanian-curriculum-2025-2026/ Tue, 11 Aug 2026 05:09:38 +0000 https://impact-se.org/?post_type=publication&p=3635 IMPACT-se’s latest review of Jordanian textbooks for the 2025-2026 school year, covering 125 textbooks, including 32 newly introduced textbooks, finds that although key themes include tolerance and religious moderation, problematic material persists and new concerning content has also been introduced. Although the curriculum promotes coexistence, peacemaking and presents women in more diverse roles, both old and […]

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]]> IMPACT-se’s latest review of Jordanian textbooks for the 2025-2026 school year, covering 125 textbooks, including 32 newly introduced textbooks, finds that although key themes include tolerance and religious moderation, problematic material persists and new concerning content has also been introduced. Although the curriculum promotes coexistence, peacemaking and presents women in more diverse roles, both old and new materials continue to glorify violent interpretations of jihad and martyrdom, and contain highly antisemitic stereotypes and tropes, as well as deeply homophobic content.

Read the full report here.

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]]> Review of Saudi Textbooks 2024-2026 https://impact-se.org/publication/review-of-saudi-textbooks-2024-2026/ Wed, 29 Jul 2026 07:33:07 +0000 https://impact-se.org/?post_type=publication&p=3631 Saudi Arabia’s 2024–26 curriculum continues its trajectory of positive educational reform, further strengthening messages of peace, coexistence, and critical thinking while reducing extremist content. While room for improvement remains, the report finds ongoing progress in how textbooks present religious minorities, gender equality, and tolerance. Read the full report here.

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]]> Saudi Arabia's 2024–26 curriculum continues its trajectory of positive educational reform, further strengthening messages of peace, coexistence, and critical thinking while reducing extremist content. While room for improvement remains, the report finds ongoing progress in how textbooks present religious minorities, gender equality, and tolerance.

Read the full report here.

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]]> In Syria, the Real Foreign Policy Is Written in the Classroom https://impact-se.org/publication/in-syria-the-real-foreign-policy-is-written-in-the-classroom/ Tue, 21 Jul 2026 11:14:51 +0000 https://impact-se.org/?post_type=publication&p=3612 As Syria’s new leadership seeks closer engagement with Western governments, its education reforms offer an early indication of the country’s future direction. This analysis examines what recent curriculum changes reveal about the regime’s ideological priorities—from attitudes toward the West and religious minorities to the role of women and Syria’s evolving relationship with Turkey. These findings […]

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]]> As Syria's new leadership seeks closer engagement with Western governments, its education reforms offer an early indication of the country's future direction. This analysis examines what recent curriculum changes reveal about the regime's ideological priorities—from attitudes toward the West and religious minorities to the role of women and Syria's evolving relationship with Turkey.

These findings come ahead of the first comprehensive review of the Syrian curriculum under the auspices of the new regime, which IMPACT-se will soon publish.

Read the full analysis here.

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]]> Analysing UNRWA’s Response to the UN Independent Review (Colonna Report) https://impact-se.org/publication/analysing-unrwas-response-to-the-un-independent-review-colonna-report/ Thu, 02 Jul 2026 10:58:27 +0000 https://impact-se.org/?post_type=publication&p=3351 This IMPACT-se report examines the extent to which UNRWA has implemented the recommendations of the independent United Nations review, conducted by former-French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna following allegations concerning the agency’s neutrality and links to terrorist organisations. Drawing on UNRWA’s quarterly progress reports, funding requests, public statements, policy documents, and educational materials published between April […]

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]]> This IMPACT-se report examines the extent to which UNRWA has implemented the recommendations of the independent United Nations review, conducted by former-French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna following allegations concerning the agency's neutrality and links to terrorist organisations. Drawing on UNRWA's quarterly progress reports, funding requests, public statements, policy documents, and educational materials published between April 2024 and May 2026, the analysis finds limited evidence of meaningful implementation or deep institutional reform, raising questions about the agency's commitment to addressing the review's recommendations.

Read the full report here.

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]]> From Classroom to Conflict: Iranian Textbooks and the Ideological Roots of the US-Iran-Israel War https://impact-se.org/publication/from-classroom-to-conflict-iranian-textbooks-and-the-ideological-roots-of-the-us-iran-israel-war/ Sun, 10 May 2026 10:15:43 +0000 https://impact-se.org/?post_type=publication&p=3109 Against the backdrop of the ongoing US–Israel–Iran war, IMPACT-se examines how Iran’s national curriculum and school textbooks provide a lens into the threat the regime poses not only to the US, Israel, and the West, but also to regional actors across the Middle East and to its own civilian population. The analysis shows how Iran’s […]

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]]> Against the backdrop of the ongoing US–Israel–Iran war, IMPACT-se examines how Iran’s national curriculum and school textbooks provide a lens into the threat the regime poses not only to the US, Israel, and the West, but also to regional actors across the Middle East and to its own civilian population.

The analysis shows how Iran’s education system advances the regime’s Khomeinist ideology, presenting nuclear dominance and the glorification of jihadist leaders as central to its national and religious identity.

By analyzing curriculum content and educational messaging, the article raises urgent questions about how state education furthers the regime’s intentions and what this may mean for the long-term stability of the Middle East.

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]]> Review of the Qatari 2025 Curriculum https://impact-se.org/publication/review-of-the-qatari-2025-curriculum/ Sun, 03 May 2026 10:10:44 +0000 https://impact-se.org/?post_type=publication&p=3105 IMPACT-se’s latest review of Qatari textbooks approved for the 2025–2026 school year finds that, for the fourth consecutive year, previously identified problematic content remains unchanged. The curriculum continues to promote religious superiority and intolerance toward the “Other,” portraying non-Muslims as corrupt or “foul.” Content also persists which endorses violent interpretations of jihad and encourages martyrdom.

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]]> IMPACT-se’s latest review of Qatari textbooks approved for the 2025–2026 school year finds that, for the fourth consecutive year, previously identified problematic content remains unchanged. The curriculum continues to promote religious superiority and intolerance toward the “Other,” portraying non-Muslims as corrupt or “foul.” Content also persists which endorses violent interpretations of jihad and encourages martyrdom.

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]]> When Education Diverges from Law: LGBTQ Narratives in Jordanian and Egyptian Textbooks https://impact-se.org/publication/when-education-diverges-from-law-lgbtq-narratives-in-jordanian-and-egyptian-textbooks/ Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://impact-se.org/publication/when-education-diverges-from-law-lgbtq-narratives-in-jordanian-and-egyptian-textbooks/ This report examines how Jordanian and Egyptian school textbooks address homosexuality and gender non-conformity. Through analysis of religious and language curricula, it shows how textbook narratives often reflect prevailing social and religious norms rather than state law, highlighting the role of education in transmitting societal attitudes. Please find the paper here.

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]]> This report examines how Jordanian and Egyptian school textbooks address homosexuality and gender non-conformity. Through analysis of religious and language curricula, it shows how textbook narratives often reflect prevailing social and religious norms rather than state law, highlighting the role of education in transmitting societal attitudes.

Please find the paper here.

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]]> Review of the 2025-2026 Palestinian Authority School Curriculum https://impact-se.org/publication/review-of-the-2025-2026-palestinian-authority-school-curriculum/ Fri, 02 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://impact-se.org/publication/review-of-the-2025-2026-palestinian-authority-school-curriculum/ Our comprehensive review of the Palestinian Authority’s 2025–26 national school curriculum, analyzes 290 textbooks and 71 teacher guides used in West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem schools (including UNRWA). The study finds the materials substantively unchanged from prior editions and documents recurring patterns across subjects: promotion of jihad and martyrdom, glorification of terrorism, incitement of […]

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]]> Our comprehensive review of the Palestinian Authority’s 2025–26 national school curriculum, analyzes 290 textbooks and 71 teacher guides used in West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem schools (including UNRWA). The study finds the materials substantively unchanged from prior editions and documents recurring patterns across subjects: promotion of jihad and martyrdom, glorification of terrorism, incitement of antisemitism, rejection of peacemaking and the two-state solution, and erasure of Israel from maps.The report notes these themes across subjects, including science and math textbooks, in which violence is normalized. Meanwhile, language exercises and teacher guides include narratives that idealize armed struggle and present historical figures who perpetrated deadly attacks on civilians as role models. Overall, the findings provide an evidence-based portrait of the current curriculum’s content, themes, and classroom guidance.

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]]> Review of Iraqi Textbooks https://impact-se.org/publication/review-of-iraqi-textbooks/ Fri, 26 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://impact-se.org/publication/review-of-iraqi-textbooks/ Our Iraq review compiles 38 examples from the 2024–25 curriculum across 21 humanities textbooks—including Arabic Language and Literature, Qur’an/Islamic, Education, Social Studies, and History—and evaluates them against UNESCO-based benchmarks for peace and tolerance. The findings reveal that while isolated passages promote civic virtues, the broader picture is troubling. Violent jihad and martyrdom are valorized—even in […]

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]]> Our Iraq review compiles 38 examples from the 2024–25 curriculum across 21 humanities textbooks—including Arabic Language and Literature, Qur’an/Islamic, Education, Social Studies, and History—and evaluates them against UNESCO-based benchmarks for peace and tolerance. The findings reveal that while isolated passages promote civic virtues, the broader picture is troubling. Violent jihad and martyrdom are valorized—even in language lessons, gender content is paternalistic, while antisemitic stereotypes recur. These patterns raise concerns about how Iraq’s education system addresses tolerance, diversity, and gender equality—and about continued non-compliance with international standards

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]]> UAE: A Unique Path for Teaching Tolerance https://impact-se.org/publication/uae-a-unique-path-for-teaching-tolerance/ Sun, 21 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://impact-se.org/publication/uae-a-unique-path-for-teaching-tolerance/ This paper by Matan Perchikov illustrates how the UAE curricula mobilize both Arab cultural and local national heritage, as well as Islamic religious tradition, to reinforce messages of peace and tolerance. In particular, the paper highlights the importance of introducing Moral Education as a distinct subject and the pedagogic approach of Islamic Education textbooks. By […]

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]]> This paper by Matan Perchikov illustrates how the UAE curricula mobilize both Arab cultural and local national heritage, as well as Islamic religious tradition, to reinforce messages of peace and tolerance. In particular, the paper highlights the importance of introducing Moral Education as a distinct subject and the pedagogic approach of Islamic Education textbooks. By drawing simultaneously on religious textual authority and national cultural identity, the curricula present tolerance not as imported or externally imposed standard, but as an organic and deeply rooted value in Emirati society.

Please find the paper here.

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