Saudi Arabian school textbooks teach hatred of Jews, gay men and Christians, says new report
The research from the Anti-Defamation League goes against the country's pledge to modernise
By Steve Brown
Words: Steve Brown
Saudi Arabian school books are allegedly teaching hatred of Jews, Christians and gay men, a new report has claimed.
According to the US-based Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the curriculum also tells students that beating a woman is “permitted when necessary” despite the country’s pledge to modernise under Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman including lifting a ban on women driving and allow them to watch sport in national stadiums.
Now the ADL has reviewed the Saudi government-published textbooks for the year 2018-2019 and found that they “promote incitement to hatred or violence against Jews, Christians, woman and homosexual men”.
The same brand of textbooks have reportedly been used in countries in Africa, Europe and other parts of Asia.
ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said: “The United States must hold its ally Saudi Arabia to a higher standard.
“The US cannot look the other way while Saudi Arabi features anti-Semitic hate speech year after year in the educational material it gives to its children.”
David Andrew Weinberg, ADL’s Washington Director for International Affairs and the author of the report, added: “Saudi Arabia has made some undeniably significant social and religious reforms in recent years, but such steps have yet to address the hate-filled invective against Jews, Christians and others that is being taught to the next generation of Saudis.”