RAMA HALAF

Damascus- Following the fall of the Assad regime, a new transitional government led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) was formed in Syria. In the beginning of January 2025, the government published a list of amendments in school curriculum, sparking anger in the country.

Alaa Al-Hayek, a lawyer in Damascus, thinks the changes to the school curriculum pose a threat to the future of an entire generation. “These changes raise concern in society. Many of the changes are unnecessary. The removal of the content glorifying the Assad family would have been sufficient. The removal of information about Syria’s rich history is unacceptable.”

Alaa Al-Hayek also talked about other changes to the school curriculum. “For instance, references to the pre-Islamic queen of the ancient city of Palmyra, Queen Zenobia, have also been removed. The changes include the phrase ‘the brave one who defends the homeland’ to ‘for the sake of Allah’. These changes pose a threat to the future of an entire generation. At such a critical process, religion must be separated from politics in Syria.”

‘Women face restrictions’

Alaa Al-Hayek reacted to the removal of Queen Zenobia in the school curriculum and said, “The removal of her name has sparked anger among human rights activists. They think that this move is an attempt to underestimate the role of women in society. In some regions, women face restrictions on their clothing and going out alone.”