IS closes schools in eastern Syria, forces them to learn Islamic law

Some locals protested against IS closing schools, but the protests died down because everyone was afraid of IS.

The Islamic State (IS) extremist group has closed most schools in the eastern Syrian province of Deir al-Zor and forced teachers to take classes on Sharia - a strict version of Islamic law - until IS introduces a new curriculum, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on November 7.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said IS forced teachers to take Sharia courses until a new curriculum was drafted and IS closed most schools in Deir al-Zor province, according to Reuters.

Children at an IS school (photo: news.com.au)

In addition, IS has also forced teachers to take similar courses and closed schools in the city of al-Bokamal, near the Syria-Iraq border, according to SOHR.

Some locals protested against IS closing schools, but the protests died down because everyone was afraid of IS, said Abu Hussein al Deiri, a Syrian human rights activist.

Since 2012, IS has been carrying out attacks aimed at overthrowing the Syrian government. In June 2014, IS seized large areas of Syria and Iraq, declaring itself an Islamic State and imposing Sharia in areas under its control.

In September 2014, IS also closed several schools in the city of Mosul, Iraq, banning the teaching of current subjects and imposing a Sharia-based education curriculum.

Since the new school year began in September 2014, IS has adjusted the curriculum in areas under its control, eliminating physics and chemistry and replacing them with subjects on Islam and Sharia.

IS has arrested, executed and beheaded hundreds of people in recent months in Deir al-Zor for daring to oppose the organization, Reuters said./.

According to Tuoi Tre