Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) isn't just a well-financed jihadist militia, it's also a real de facto Islamic State, fighting to expand into an even larger Islamic Caliphate. It has taken over the mundane tasks of providing services to its subjects, directing traffic, and meting out its own form of justice through a court system, among other civic responsibilities. As this animated video from The Wall Street Journal's Reem Makhoul explains, ISIS has its own school curriculum, too.
All schools in Raqqa and other ISIS-held cities must teach Islamic law, and students who refuse face punishment up to and including death. Females and males are split up, and girls and women have to wear full burqas, with only their eyes showing. Banned from schools are music, social studies, history, arts, sports, philosophy, psychology, and all mention of Syria or Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The video has more details of this side of ISIS we rarely see in the West. --Peter Weber
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Today's political cartoons - December 22, 2024Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - the long and short of it, trigger finger, and more
-
5 hilariously spirited cartoons about the spirit of ChristmasCartoons Artists take on excuses, pardons, and more
-
Inside the house of AssadThe Explainer Bashar al-Assad and his father, Hafez, ruled Syria for more than half a century but how did one family achieve and maintain power?
-
British warship repels 'largest Houthi attack to date' in the Red SeaSpeed read Western allies warn of military response to Iranian-backed Yemeni rebels if attacks on ships continue
-
Houthi rebels claim Red Sea ship attacksspeed read Iran-backed Yemeni group vows to escalate aggression towards Israel-linked vessels in revenge for Gaza war
-
Israel plans next phase of Gaza war as first hostages releasedSpeed read After four-day ceasefire 'we will not stop' until destruction of Hamas, says Israel
-
Mob storms Russian airport 'looking for Jews'Speed Read Plane from Israel surrounded by rioters chanting antisemitic slogans after landing in Russia's Dagestan region
-
Tuberville's military promotions block is upending lives, combat readiness, 3 military branch chiefs saySpeed Read
-
Ukraine's counteroffensive is making incremental gains. Does it matter in the broader war?Speed Read
-
US commissions first-ever Navy ship in a foreign portSpeed Read
-
British spy chief, Wagner video suggest Prigozhin is alive and freely 'floating around'Speed Read
