Azerbaijan’s textbooks show increasing support for Israel and respect for Jews
Marking a first for a Muslim-majority country. examples of antisemitism incorporated into the curriculum include the Dreyfus Affair, persecution in Tsarist Russia, and Nazi Germany
Azerbaijan has become the first Muslim-majority country to incorporate a definition of antisemitism into its textbooks, according to a new report from international research and policy institute IMPACT-se (Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education).
The document examines Azerbaijani textbooks and their depiction of Jews, antisemitism, and Israel.
The findings highlight positive portrayals of Jews and Israel, plus recognition of the Holocaust as a genocide killing 6 million Jews.
Notably, anti-Israel narratives were removed in revisions made for the current 2024-25 school year, reflecting a shift toward a more balanced overview of the conflict. There are no signs of Islamism or radicalism and the textbooks promote ideals of diversity and tolerance and a secular, inclusive national identity.
However, the absence of Azerbaijani Jewish history and broader Jewish history in textbooks marks areas for improvement.
The report evaluated 53 textbooks taught in the Azerbaijani national curriculum, revealing promising progress and developments. As a strategic neighbour to Iran, Azerbaijan’s societal values hold geopolitical significance, and so its curricular implementation of secular ideals is of significance.
The report can be found here.
President of the Ruderman Family Foundation, Jay Ruderman said: “The publication of this study on Azerbaijan’s textbooks marks the first in a groundbreaking series of in-depth reports, which provide a revealing window into central Asia. It is hugely encouraging that in an increasingly turbulent world, children in Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are learning the priceless values of tolerance, respect and peaceful relations. This reflects the potential for building bridges through education, a vision championed by the Ruderman Family Foundation.”
IMPACT-se chief executive, Marcus Sheff said: “Azerbaijan is a key player in central Asia. Islamic and ethnically Turkic, it is bordered by Iran to the south, Russia to the north and Turkey to the west – an increasingly critical geopolitical juncture. This report is an important indicator for anyone who wants to understand which direction the region is taking. The textbooks demonstrate a clear rejection of the extreme Islamist values promoted by their near-neighbor Iran. Instead, they promote tolerance, diversity and a heartfelt respect for Jews and Israel, which serves as an important model for many other majority-Muslim states.”
- The report is the first in a three-part series on curricula in central Asian countries, produced in partnership with the Ruderman Family Foundation, which also includes Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
