Mona Lisa scrubbed from Syrian textbooks as critics slam conservative drift

Images of people dancing were also removed from sixth-grade social affairs textbooks.(AFP) — In one book, an illustration was redrawn to show girls wearing hijabs gathered around a computer. In another, an image of the “Mona Lisa” was removed entirely.Changes to Syria’s official schoolbooks are sparking criticism of the country’s new Islamist authorities as the nation tries to move on after 13 years of civil war and decades of authoritarian rule.After ousting longtime ruler Bashar Assad in December 2024, Syria’s new authorities, led by former jihadist Ahmed al-Sharaa, have taken several conservative steps, including imposing stricter dress codes for beaches and restricting alcohol sales. Some universities have limited certain courses to men.Now the textbook changes are drawing an outcry after Syrian journalist Mohammad Salloum highlighted them last week, citing a report by the Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education, or IMPACT-se.AFP confirmed several changes by consulting electronic versions of textbooks on official websites.Among them were the removal of an image of the “Mona Lisa” from a seventh-grade history textbook and the removal of images of statues emblematic of ancient Syrian civilizations from a third-grade social studies textbook.In a fourth-grade Islamic education textbook, illustrations of several people wearing Western clothing were replaced with two separate drawings — one of two men in traditional robes and another showing two women wearing niqabs.On social media and some local media platforms, Syrians shared images of a pharaonic bust that had been depicted wearing a modern shirt and an illustration of girls at a computer that now shows them wearing hijabs.Images of people dancing were also removed from sixth-grade social affairs textbooks.‘Ideological narrative’While nominally secular, the Assad family committed horrific abuses over several decades against people who dared to speak out against its rule, including anyone perceived to be Islamist.Sharaa, meanwhile, once headed the country’s al-Qaida affiliate, and his Islamist group led the alliance that toppled Assad. But he has undergone a major transformation and adopted a more moderate image as Syria’s head of state.The curriculum controversy comes as supporters and critics tussle over the religiously conservative country’s direction in the post-Assad era.On Monday, the education ministry said changes to the curriculum included “removing symbols of the defunct regime and its ideological content, and correcting images and content connected to it.”Last year, the ministry changed the curriculum, mainly in the primary school subjects of social studies, Islamic education, history and geography, removing symbols linked to the Baath Party, which ruled the country for decades.But according to IMPACT-se, the new curriculum “demonstrates a far-reaching ideological transformation that extends well beyond routine pedagogical adjustments.”“Across subjects and grades, textbook amendments collectively attempt to reconfigure national identity, historical memory, civic values, and regional positioning through what appears to be a consolidated Islamist and Sunni-centered framework,” it said.Lawyer and human rights activist Michal Shammas called for revising the curriculum according to “educational and scientific standards” and strengthening critical thinking and respect for diversity.He also noted changes linked to the Ottoman period, with references to the 1916 execution of Syrian nationalists in Damascus now presenting those killed as “agents and conspirators” after they had long been characterized as “martyrs.”Sharaa’s administration has a close relationship with Turkey.The textbook controversy comes after some universities last month restricted certain courses to men and a renowned school in Damascus decided to segregate boys and girls, citing bullying and harassment of girls.Opinions were divided between supporters of the school’s move and opponents who saw it as a sign of growing religious conservatism.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads