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May 22, 2006
Saudi Textbooks Get Failing Grade
Topics: Understanding Islam"Jihad in the path of God -- which consists of battling against unbelief, oppression, injustice, and those who perpetrate it -- is the summit of Islam. This religion arose through jihad and through jihad was its banner raised high. It is one of the noblest acts, which brings one closer to God, and one of the most magnificent acts of obedience to God" - Saudi 12th grade textbook.
Saudi textbooks get a failing grade when it comes to being free of material that teaches an ideology of hatred toward Christians, Jews, and Muslims who do not follow Wahhabi doctrine, and still teach a dualistic vision, dividing the world into true believers of Islam (the "monotheists") and unbelievers (the "polytheists" and "infidels") - despite the Saudi government's statements to the contrary.
t for having removed material that encourages violence and intolerance toward religions other than Islam;
From the WaPo today (via Jihad Watch) we learn that a 2004 Saudi royal study group recognized the need for reform after finding that the kingdom's religious studies curriculum "encourages violence toward others, and misguides the pupils into believing that in order to safeguard their own religion, they must violently repress and even physically eliminate the 'other.' " Since then, the Saudi government has claimed repeatedly that it has revised its educational texts.
Unfortunately, this isn't true!
PBS' Frontline has previously done some very informative interviews about the Saudi's teaching of Wahhabism and it's spread by the Saudis. The interviews were conducted with Mai Yamani, an anthropologist who studies Saudi society; Vali Nasr, an authority on Islamic fundamentalism; Maher Hathout, spokesperson for the Islamic Center of Southern California; and Ahmed Ali, a Shi'a Muslim from Saudi Arabia. Wahhabism's explosive growth began in the 1970s when Saudi charities started funding Wahhabi schools (madrassas) and mosques from Islamabad to Culver City, California.
For more than two centuries, Wahhabism has been Saudi Arabia's dominant faith. It is an austere form of Islam that insists on a literal interpretation of the Koran. Strict Wahhabis believe that all those who don't practice their form of Islam are heathens and enemies. Critics say that Wahhabism's rigidity has led it to misinterpret and distort Islam, pointing to extremists such as Osama bin Laden and the Taliban.
You can read excerpts of the interviews here, where you'll also find links to the full interviews that are certain to alarm you, especially in the light of knowing that the Saudis are still teaching the same doctrine.
Important additional reading:
[Freedom House report on] Saudi Venom in U.S. Mosques (2005)
Spreading Saudi Fundamentalism in U.S. (2003)
Posted by Richard at May 22, 2006 1:58 PM
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