Saudi textbooks
Encyclopedia
The Saudi Arabian textbook controversy refers to criticism of the content of school textbooks in Saudi Arabia
since the September 11 attacks. The United States
demanded that Saudi textbooks be reviewed and revised to remove material perceived as spreading intolerance and hatred.
After the bombing of the Twin Towers
in New York
, the American government called on Saudi Arabia to reform its educational curriculum by eliminating educational material that demonizes Christians and Jews
and promotes holy war
against "unbelievers
."
Senior Saudi officials assured the United States that the reform was completed, but a new report by the human-rights group Freedom House
suggested otherwise. Saudi officials have tried to convince Washington that the educational curriculum has been reformed. On a speaking tour of American cities, the Saudi ambassador to the United States, Prince Turki bin Faisal, told audiences that the Kingdom has eliminated what might be perceived as intolerance from its old textbooks.
In November 2010, the BBC
's investigative program Panorama reported that Saudi national textbooks advocating anti-Semitism
and violence against homosexuals were still in use in weekend religious programs in the United Kingdom.
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
since the September 11 attacks. The United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
demanded that Saudi textbooks be reviewed and revised to remove material perceived as spreading intolerance and hatred.
After the bombing of the Twin Towers
Twin Towers
Twin Towers may refer to:In architecture:* Deira Twin Towers, Dubai, United Arab Emirates* Deutsche Bank Twin Towers, Frankfurt, Germany* Guangzhou Twin Towers, Guangzhou, China* Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, the American government called on Saudi Arabia to reform its educational curriculum by eliminating educational material that demonizes Christians and Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
and promotes holy war
Jihad
Jihad , an Islamic term, is a religious duty of Muslims. In Arabic, the word jihād translates as a noun meaning "struggle". Jihad appears 41 times in the Quran and frequently in the idiomatic expression "striving in the way of God ". A person engaged in jihad is called a mujahid; the plural is...
against "unbelievers
Unbelievers
Unbelievers may refer to:*Infidels, is one who doubts or rejects central tenets of a religion, especially those regarding its deities*"Unbelievers," a song by Starflyer 59 from their 2003 album Old...
."
Senior Saudi officials assured the United States that the reform was completed, but a new report by the human-rights group Freedom House
Freedom House
Freedom House is an international non-governmental organization based in Washington, D.C. that conducts research and advocacy on democracy, political freedom and human rights...
suggested otherwise. Saudi officials have tried to convince Washington that the educational curriculum has been reformed. On a speaking tour of American cities, the Saudi ambassador to the United States, Prince Turki bin Faisal, told audiences that the Kingdom has eliminated what might be perceived as intolerance from its old textbooks.
In November 2010, the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's investigative program Panorama reported that Saudi national textbooks advocating anti-Semitism
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
and violence against homosexuals were still in use in weekend religious programs in the United Kingdom.
See also
- Israeli textbook controversyIsraeli textbook controversyTextbooks in Israel are published in Israel by the Ministry of Education of Israel and other educational institutions.The Ministry of Education of Israel defines the curriculum of schools in Israel and is in charge of the recruitment and training of teachers...
- Palestinian textbook controversy
- Pakistani textbooks/Pakistan studiesPakistan StudiesPakistan studies curriculum is the name of a curriculum of academic research and study that encompasses the culture, demographics, geography, history, and politics of Pakistan. The subject is widely researched in and outside the country...
- Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School EducationInstitute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School EducationThe Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education , formerly known as the Center for Monitoring the Impact of Peace , is a non-profit organization that monitors the content of school textbooks...
External links
- Excerpts from Saudi Ministry of Education Textbooks for Islamic Studies: Arabic with English Translation, Center for Religious Freedom of Freedom House with the Institute for Gulf Affairs
- Saudi Arabia's Curriculum Of Intolerance: With Excerpts from Saudi Ministry of Education Textbooks for Islamic Studies, Institute for Gulf Affairs
- Does Saudi Preach Intolerance? An Independent Study
- Saudi mother on what her kids learned at school