Women’s Education in the ‘Caliphate’

In a recent post we discussed the concerning domestic life on offer for women under Daesh. It naturally follows that women’s education in the ‘Caliphate’ – as well as their children’s – is in tatters.

According to the manifesto issued by Daesh’s all women enforcement unit, the Al-Khanssaa Brigade, women’s education should begin at the age of 7 and continue no later than 15. This, in itself, is excruciatingly difficult to achieve under the terrible conditions in Daesh-held areas across the Middle East.

The curriculum severely limits women’s advancement by focusing largely on religious studies, Arabic and learning basic cooking, knitting and other domestic skills to prepare them for their role in the centre of the household.

University degrees are mocked. Women are told that there is no need for them to “get degrees and so on just so she can try to prove that her intelligence is greater than a man’s.” (quote taken from the ISIS ‘manifesto’ as covered by The Atlantic). This shows just how much male members of Daesh are afraid of women having knowledge and ambition.

While on some occasions women can leave the house to become doctors or teachers, their lives are controlled and they are constantly punished for trivial transgressions like how they dress and travel, even inside schools and hospitals.

There is little hope for their children, too, in this horrifying landscape.

An entire generation of children have suffered – their future in ruins as a result of what Daesh has done in the region. These children have been targeted to become the next generation of fighters.

Education has become near impossible for Syrian and foreign children alike. In order to take exams, about 20% of children have to cross conflict zones. Forty-seven specific attacks on schools were recorded in 2015 and there have been more than 4,000 assaults on school property. 1 in 4 schools cannot be used because they have been damaged or used as shelters. Unfortunately, in these circumstances, it is not surprising that children are lured into becoming fighters to survive – at first by being offered indirect roles in the ‘caliphate’ and then pushed into the frontline of battle.

It is imperative that all of us uphold the right of women and children to education – including that of the Syrian people – in our fight against Daesh. We must protect our families in every way possible against a future of despair.

For more information, please see our ‘where to turn’ page.