Turning the Page on Intolerance: Egypt’s Textbook Reforms

Egypt has made significant strides in purging school textbooks of antisemitic content and other problematic material, revising over 350 state-issued books since 2018 as a part of an ambitious reform program. These changes aim to foster a more tolerant society yet there has been regression along with progress, underscoring the need for sustained efforts. The United States should support and encourage Cairo’s efforts to build on this progress.

The reform program, launched in 2018 with support from the World Bank, aims to overhaul teaching and learning conditions in state-run schools. Textbook revisions have been a central element of this program, with one grade level’s books reviewed each year. By 2030, all state-issued textbooks from elementary to high school are scheduled to be reviewed and revised.
Egyptian textbooks have long portrayed Christians, Jews, and other non-Muslims in a hostile light, often framing these groups as adversaries of Islamic values and Egyptian identity. A 2023-24 report from IMPACTse, an international research and policy organization that monitors education globally, finds that a “significant number” of negative depictions have been removed.

For example, the 2020-22 Islamic Religious Education textbook for grade two taught that God “made Hellfire for the infidels,” implying that Muslims would be rewarded on the “Day of Judgement” while non-Muslims would be condemned to damnation. That statement that removed this year. In a grade 11 history workbook, a multiple-choice question asked why the caliph Umar forbade the Jews from living in Jerusalem — options included “their betrayal and treachery” and “their love of money.” This, too, was removed. Another expunged section was from a grade five Islamic Religious Education textbook, where students were instructed to use the internet to find Quran verses about “the treachery of the Jews.”

While these revisions are commendable, problematic content remains. A 12th-grade history textbook still asserts that “Zionists” exploited the “claim” that 6 million Jews were “killed or burned by the Nazis” to justify Jewish immigration to Palestine, stating that this population movement could only have occurred through “the extermination of the Arabs of Palestine.”

Similarly, Egyptian textbooks have historically contained problematic depictions of women and LGBTQ individuals. For instance, a 12th-grade lesson on inheritance still teaches that while women are entitled to inheritance, a man’s share is much larger. Regarding the LGBTQ community, a new addition to a sixth-grade textbook condemned what it called “gender defying cross-dressing,” labeling it “contrary to human nature and against God’s will.”

Antisemitism in contemporary Egypt is an integral component of popular culture. Conspiracy theories about Jewish control over politics, media, and society abound, including the baseless claim that President Abdel Fattah El Sisi is himself secretly Jewish. State media has also perpetuated antisemitism. In 2019, Egypt’s Channel Two aired Blue Line, a current events program that promoted antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories. According to the Middle East Media Research Institute, host Hasem Aboulseod agreed with a guest who claimed that the number of Jews who perished in the Holocaust was “heavily exaggerated.” In another episode, a guest claimed that observant Jews “make a kind of matzo that is mixed with blood” for Passover — an antisemitic canard that dates to the medieval period.

Textbooks in Egypt have historically reflected broader state-driven narratives and goals, often used to push political agendas and divisive rhetoric. The reforms now underway represent a significant departure from these practices. By removing extreme and inflammatory content, Egypt has an opportunity to promote a more inclusive vision of citizenship, one that embraces religious and political diversity.  However, education reform alone cannot dismantle entrenched prejudices. To create meaningful and lasting change, Cairo must commit to broader societal efforts to challenge antisemitism, religious intolerance, and extremism.

Over the long term, Egypt’s textbook reforms could serve as a catalyst for transforming the way young Egyptians view religious and ethnic minorities. By supporting and applauding this reform program, the U.S. can help Egypt chart a new path for domestic and regional stability. Furthermore, supporting this reform sends a strong message about America’s commitment to promoting values of tolerance and human dignity.

As the State Department’s 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom noted, Egypt has made significant progress, but further action is needed. The report assessing 2024 should follow up on these developments and examine the broader impact of the revised curriculum. The United States should encourage Egypt to prioritize education reform, expand funding for initiatives promoting civic education, and collaborate with Egyptian civil society groups and responsible international NGOs to sustain progress.

Mariam Wahba is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Follow her on X @themariamwahba.