Syrians Protest Cuts to Religious Education Amid Reports of Policy Reversal

IQNA – A controversial decision by Syria’s Education Ministry to reduce religious education hours and remove Quran lessons from schools has triggered widespread protests, while unconfirmed reports suggest the ministry may have backtracked under public pressure.

Public anger has erupted across several Syrian cities following a decision by the Ministry of Education to cut the number of religious education classes and eliminate Quran lessons from the national curriculum.

The move, announced under Education Minister Mohammad Abdulrahman Tarakou, reportedly reduced weekly religious instruction from four hours to two, replacing it with music and art.

Protesters, teachers, and clerics denounced the decision as an assault on Syria’s spiritual values. Demonstrators were seen in cities including Damascus and Hama chanting slogans such as “No to music, yes to the Quran,” accusing the ministry of undermining the moral foundation of the education system.

Islamic preacher Saeed Al-Khatib told RT that the minister’s policy had “united the people against him,” adding that many Syrians view Islam as a core ethical framework essential for guiding the nation.

Asma, a high school Islamic studies teacher near Damascus, said educators across the country have rejected the plan, describing it as inconsistent with the country’s cultural and spiritual identity. She also voiced concern over reports that Islamic studies grades could be removed from school transcripts — a possibility she said would further inflame public anger.

Religious figures have warned that the decision represents more than an administrative adjustment. Sheikh Saleh Ibrahim, imam of Al-Farouq Mosque near Hasakah, argued that the reduction of Islamic education hours “cannot be justified by curriculum constraints,” calling it “an infringement on the sacred position of religion in Syrian life.”

In the wake of widespread backlash, some local outlets and social media pages have reported that the Education Ministry has quietly revoked or modified the decision, restoring the original class hours. However, these claims remain unconfirmed by state media or official sources.

Parents and community leaders continue to call for transparency. One parent said that Quran memorization classes had greatly helped his son’s linguistic and moral development, urging authorities “not to impose measures that distance students from their faith.”

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