Syria removes Ottoman occupation and oppression references from textbooks

In Syria, the phrase "Ottoman occupation" in textbooks from the Assad era was changed to "Ottoman rule," while some passages portraying the Ottoman Empire negatively were removed. The new books have reignited the curriculum debate in the country.

Following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria, references to the Ottoman period were changed in revised textbooks. Under a decision by Syria’s Ministry of Education, the phrase "Ottoman occupation" in the curriculum is being replaced with "Ottoman rule."

Turk Press reported that paragraphs about the period described in older texts as "Ottoman oppression" were removed from a final-year Arabic textbook for secondary schools. The phrase "under a tyrannical Ottoman authority" was also deleted from the text.

Süleymaniye Tekkiyesi'nin revakları, Şam

The changes are part of a reform package announced by the ministry in January 2025 covering history, Arabic, religious education, geography, philosophy and science. The package also abolished citizenship education as a subject.

The curriculum debate has flared up again in Syria as the new textbooks began being used in schools. While critics argue that the changes are broader than officially announced, Syria’s Ministry of Education said in a statement on October 26 that only one change had been made to the curriculum since January 2025.

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