Pakistani Textbooks Promote Antisemitism, Distort History, Justify Violence, New Study Finds

Pakistani textbooks depict Jews and Israel through deep-rooted antisemitic stereotypes, promoting intolerance, distorting historical facts, and reinforcing prejudice among young readers, according to a new study released on Monday.

The Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-se), a nonprofit organization that analyzes schoolbooks and curricula around the world, examined over 80 government-approved Pakistani textbooks in subjects ranging from Islamic education and history to social sciences, English, and Urdu as part of a national curriculum assessment.

The group’s newly released study reveals persistent antisemitism in Pakistani textbooks, with hostile portrayals of Jews in Islamic education and a complete absence of Judaism in comparative religion sections.

In several textbooks, Jews are repeatedly portrayed using long-standing antisemitic stereotypes, consistently depicted as “inherently treacherous and disloyal,” the study found.

For example, a 6th-grade textbook portrays Jewish tribes in Medina as conspiring against the Prophet Mohammed, the founder of Islam, on multiple occasions.

Meanwhile, a 5th-grade textbook repeats the antisemitic stereotype that Jews “caused Prophet Isa [Jesus] and his mother to suffer,” claiming they plotted against him to protect their authority.

According to the study, this portrayal reflects medieval antisemitic tropes that blame Jews for the crucifixion of Jesus.

“These narratives frame Judaism as inherently treacherous and promote intolerance,” the report explained.

IMPACT-se also pointed out that the Holocaust is completely omitted from school curricula in Pakistan, with some textbooks even praising Adolf Hitler for restoring German pride while ignoring the atrocities committed by the Nazis.

“Given Pakistan’s prominent regional role, its nuclear status, and large percentage of young people, this curriculum has far-reaching consequences,” IMPACT-se CEO Marcus Sheff said in a statement.

“What is taught in classrooms today will define Pakistan’s future global outlook, including its relationship with Israel and the Jewish people,” he continued.

In more recent history, the study found that Pakistani textbooks portray Israel as an aggressor solely responsible for the war in Gaza, while encouraging support for Muslim nations that seek to destroy the Jewish state.

For example, a 12th-grade textbook blames Israel for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, while making no mention of Hamas’s role in sparking the current war with its invasion of and massacre across southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

The textbook “frames Israel as the sole aggressor and the source of the humanitarian catastrophe with no mention of the broader conflict,” the study explained.

“Israel is portrayed as an adversary and is shockingly handed exclusive blame for the current war in Gaza,” it continued.

IMPACT-se also pointed out that several Islamic education textbooks portray jihad as a physical or armed struggle, reinforcing the idea that violent resistance is justified in the face of perceived injustice.

For instance, a 9th-grade Islamic education textbook depicts jihad as a moral duty to protect the oppressed, portraying armed action as a religious obligation with a “broader and noble purpose.”

According to IMPACT-se, this portrayal is used to justify unlimited violence under the guise of moral duty.