Reporting of Federici Studies Center
HOLY LAND – Palestine, the Christian religion becomes one of the subjects for school graduation
The decision reached afterwards 13 years of debates. A ministerial text approved. In Bethlehem, the kids are thrilled. Previously the test was only internal, not recognized at state level
Bethlehem (AsiaNews) – At the next high school exams, Christian and Muslim students will face a test side by side, each on their own religion. For the first time, the Christian religion is in the official subjects of the "tawjihi", the final exam for high school students (12but class). Brother Marwan Di'Des tells it, Franciscan and director of the School of the Holy Land in Bethlehem. In the Palestinian Territories the school year started on 29 August (to the joy of the little ones and the regret of the high school students, Brother Di'Des comments laughing). For the 2018-19, final year Christian students will take an additional subject in the national exam: “Christian education”. The decision is the result of 13 years of debate and work. For the test, the Palestinian Ministry of Education has approved a textbook drawn up with the collaboration of all the churches (“churches”, ndr) in Palestine. In previous years, the exam concerned only Islam, although both religions are obligatory. “The issue is one of social justice: if the Muslim boy can take an official exam, why not the Christian?”, comments between Di'Des. “It is a great result because in the Holy Land we are less than 2%. This absolute minority that manages to have a state exam for their religion is an important success. It is also a sign that the Authority recognizes our pedagogical role." (…) Equality between Muslim and Christian children is a lively issue for the Bethlehem school, where the 67% of the students are Christian and the rest are Muslim. (…)
SYRIA – Kurdish militias close Christian schools in Qamishli
Reedy (Fides Agency) – Armed elements of the so-called “Kurdish self-management militias” have imposed the closure of some educational institutions belonging to the local Syrian and Assyrian Christian communities, in north-eastern Syria. The event happened yesterday, Tuesday 28 August, a Reedy, in the north-eastern Syrian province of Hassake . According to information released by ankawa.com, Christian schools were closed for failing to implement the new school curricula imposed by the Kurdish autonomist forces of the so-called "autonomous self-government of the Jazira Region", and which also provide for the compulsory teaching of the Kurdish language in all educational institutions. The Kurdish autonomist militias also dispersed a protest demonstration by the parents of the pupils with gunfire., who had gathered spontaneously in front of the Syrian Orthodox church of Qamishli dedicated to the Virgin Mary (see photo) to protest against the closure of Christian schools. A recent provision from the Democratic Union Party (PYD, Kurdish political acronym affiliated with the PKK) asked all local communities to conform the programs of their respective schools to the new school programs inspired by Kurdish autonomy. In the first days of August, Kurdish forces had already closed a Christian school in the town of Derbiseye, after the management of the school refused to adopt the school curriculum based on the teaching of the Kurdish language and culture. http://www.fides.org/it/news/64669-ASIA_SIRIA_Milizie_curde_chiudono_le_scuole_cristiane_di_Qamishli
Use: In Italy “CasaPound” in his electoral program he asks for the school to be taken away “to anyone who has particularistic interests (political or confessional)”. Even the nineteenth-century Freemasons did not dare so much: in fact Saint John Bosco had the opportunity to open Salesian schools throughout the Kingdom of Italy.
IRAQ – Baghdad, online mobilization to stop the demolition of an old Catholic school (Photo)
Baghdad (Fides Agency) – His name in Arabic, Al Aqueeda, means "faith". E’ the ancient Catholic girls' school, built in 1921, where Zaha Hadid also studied, the famous Iraqi "archistar" who passed away in 2016. The building represents part of the architectural heritage of the Iraqi capital, but it may soon be demolished to make way for a shopping mall. A prospect that provoked a lively reaction from many Christians in Baghdad, which over time transformed into a real online mobilization against the demolition project. Intellectuals, journalists and many citizens, in their online interventions, they accuse the local authorities of having abdicated their role in protecting and enhancing the city's historical architectural heritage, while the officials of the municipality of Baghdad defend themselves by revealing that the demolition request was submitted to their offices by the "Christian organization" currently owning the land on which the building to be demolished stands. According to what was reported to the Monitor, Washington-based online newspaper, and Judge Abdul Zahra, deputy director of the communications office of Baghdad municipality, the owners of the land explained that the local Christian community would no longer be interested in the school building and the attached chapel, as most Christians have left the urban area around the school. Hakim Abdul Zahra also added that at the moment no authorization has been granted by the Baghdad municipality for the demolition of the structure.
The building currently belongs to the Rahebat al-Taqdumma association in Baghdad. Association officials reported that the school had been leased to the Iraqi Ministry of Education, adding that he had not received payments from that government body since 2013.
