Assad defends secularism for fear of Muslim Brothers

The media of Damascus – as strictly monitored as ever – has contested an appeal of 39 imams against a decision not to teach religion in primary school.

Damascus (AsiaNews) – Now that the Muslim Brothers are definitely the leaders of the Opposition, Bachar al-Assad appears to be anxiously committing himself to intensifying the "secular" nature of the Syrian regime of the Baath party, which has been in government for more than 40 years.

Alongside criticisms of the anti-Syrian behaviour of the international community, especially the United States and its French and British allies, the Syrian press – as strictly monitored as ever – has recently been paying a good deal of attention to relations between the "secular" and "religious" communities, following the publication of an appeal by 39 important imams. Distinctive representatives of the Muslim community, the imams called on President Assad to use his constitutional role to stop the "poisonous campaign" launched by enemies of Islam against the teaching of religion in the primary classes of public schools. They claimed such a decision aimed to "transform society into a secular society, according to a model that would empty the country of the values taught and lived by its fathers".

Talking to AsiaNews, Syria's Minister of Religious Affairs, Mohamad Ziad El Ayoubi, reiterated the "need to leave room for mental and cultural development in schools, avoiding all sorts of religious expression, because little children must grow up in a neutral environment, without being obliged to submit to pressure exerted by others." The minister revealed that more than 10 imams had been received by President Assad in recent days to express their protest against his directives. The true reason for their protestations, according to El Ayoubi, was "to save face with fundamentalists, who are seeking to change the country's direction." The minister criticized these imams, claiming that there was a plot against the secular vision of the state: "They want to follow the example of fundamentalists in Afghanistan and Somalia, they want to infiltrate the people's souls, using religion for their purposes."

Yesterday, the newspaper "Al Sawrat" (The Revolution) published a feature criticizing the transformation of Kfarsousa public garden (near Damascus) – which covers 4,000 square metres of land – into a space reserved for women and children. Commenting about this decision taken by fundamentalists, the newspaper highlighted the danger "at Syria's doors": transformation of the secular state into a Sharia one. Underlining that alcohol is banned in many restaurants and that women wearing the chador are increasing in number, Al Sawrat appealed for the setting up of a front in defence of the secular state.

• syria
• islam
• Muslim
• Brothers
• Opposition
• assad
• secularism
• state
• teaching
• religion
• schools
• alcohol
• chador