Azerbaijan embraces diversity: First Muslim nation to define antisemitism in textbooks Landmark step in educating for peace and tolerance

In a groundbreaking move, The Jerusalem Post has spotlighted Azerbaijan’s remarkable strides in education and its commitment to fostering tolerance. The article highlights a historic achievement: Azerbaijan has become the first Muslim-majority nation to officially define antisemitism in its textbooks. Caliber.Az is proud to present this insightful piece to our readers.   

A new report from the Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-se) has revealed that Azerbaijan has made significant progress in its educational curriculum, marking a historic achievement as the first Muslim-majority country to define antisemitism in its textbooks.

Published on Thursday, the report is part of a three-part series on Central Asian curricula, produced in collaboration with the Ruderman Family Foundation. It also examines the educational materials in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

The findings of the report showcase a positive representation of Jews and Israel, alongside a clear recognition of the Holocaust as the systematic genocide of six million Jews. A significant development in the 2024-25 school year saw the removal of anti-Israel narratives, providing a more balanced perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. IMPACT-se also noted that there are no signs of radicalism or Islamist rhetoric in the textbooks. Instead, they emphasize secularism, diversity, and inclusivity.

However, the report points out that Azerbaijani Jewish history, along with broader Jewish historical narratives, is still largely absent, marking an area for future improvement.

The study reviewed 53 textbooks from Azerbaijan’s national curriculum, all of which demonstrated a notable shift in the portrayal of Israel. While earlier materials depicted Israel as aggressive and dismissive of peace, the revised curriculum attributes the roots of the conflict to the Arab rejection of the 1947 UN Partition Plan. The textbooks now criticize corruption and military failures in Arab states and use more neutral language—replacing terms like “occupied” with “taken over” or “captured.”

The updated curriculum also presents Israel as a hub for technological and agricultural innovation, with a Grade 11 Geography textbook highlighting Israeli irrigation systems as models for global sustainability. Israeli agriculture is portrayed as a solution to worldwide challenges, encouraging a narrative of international cooperation.

Additionally, Palestinian violence, which was previously described as "guerilla warfare," is now labelled as terrorism, and the global consequences of such actions are recognized. Maps in Geography textbooks now depict Israel as a Jewish state. The mention of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas as the sole pursuer of peace has been removed, reinforcing a more neutral stance.

Azerbaijani textbooks also show respect for Judaism and other minority religions, integrating them into the country's cultural fabric. Jewish symbols, places of worship, and beliefs are referenced, while negative historical stereotypes about Jews have been excluded. A Grade 1 Life Knowledge textbook teaches religious diversity and kindness, featuring images of both a synagogue and a church in Azerbaijan.

In Grade 3, a teacher’s guide suggests students create religious symbols, including the Star of David, and discuss their significance. A Grade 6 textbook presents both the Jewish and Muslim versions of the Biblical sacrifice story side by side.

One significant example of inclusivity is the recognition of Jewish Azerbaijani war hero Albert Agarunov as a national hero, though his Jewish heritage is not explicitly mentioned in the educational material.

The report also praised Azerbaijan for its direct and clear teaching of the Holocaust, describing it as the systematic genocide of six million Jews. Textbooks included images and first-hand accounts of Nazi atrocities, concentration camps, and antisemitic laws. Notably, a Grade 9 History textbook explicitly defined antisemitism, making Azerbaijan the first Muslim-majority country to include such a definition in its curriculum.

In addition to the Holocaust, the curriculum also covers the persecution of Jews in Tsarist Russia and the Dreyfus Affair, expanding students’ understanding of antisemitism beyond just the Holocaust.

Jay Ruderman, president of the Ruderman Family Foundation, praised the study as “a groundbreaking report that sheds light on the region’s commitment to tolerance and respect.”

Marcus Sheff, CEO of IMPACT-se, emphasized Azerbaijan’s unique geopolitical position, noting its status as a secular, ethnically Turkic, Muslim-majority country bordered by Iran, Russia, and Turkey. He remarked that Azerbaijan's rejection of the extreme Islamist values promoted by Iran in favour of tolerance and inclusivity serves as an important model for other Muslim nations.

Roman Gurevich, Honorary Ambassador of the Jewish Agency in Azerbaijan, added, “Azerbaijan can serve as a model for the world in tolerance and respect for all religions and citizens. The bond between Azerbaijan and the Jewish people is centuries old and continues to strengthen in the modern era.”