Reports | 25 05 2020
In a recent statement issued by the "Islamic State" [ISIS], teachers in the Manbij district in the eastern Aleppo countryside were required to declare their repentance. A week later, a similar statement was issued in the Jarabulus area as part of a comprehensive plan to force teachers to repent in all areas controlled by the organization.
Abdelaziz, a teacher from Manbij, tells Rozana: "The statement issued by the organization is the beginning of a comprehensive campaign to starve teachers and enlarge the poor class. We do not know the Sharia source on which ISIS based its new regulations."
Teachers Follow Those Associated with Opposition Factions
The organization had previously opened the door to those fighting in the ranks of Syrian opposition Brigades as well as Islamic factions, on the sole condition of having a sponsor; now, "repenting" fighters are required to attend a three-month Sharia course. As for teachers, there still are no clear details about their "repentance" requirements—But they are becoming clearer little by little, with the first phase now known.
Explains Mahmoud, a teacher: "Repent for teachers is quite simple in terms of implementation in its first phase; but it bears misery for us. Each teacher is asked to swear never again to deal with the infidel regime in any form, and to renounce one's previous work with him. Thus, we would have sworn to starve our children and to submit to its [ISIS] tyranny."
Sheikh Abu Khalaf from eastern Aleppo explains that ISIS' plan in requiring segments of society to repent, confirms the organization's takfirist [expiatory] approach; it shows its belief in society being infidel, and that it bears the responsibility of reintroducing the community to Islam.
Merely an Episode in a Long Series!
The campaign to force teachers to repent, seems to be but one episode in a long series aiming to expand the organization's base by force, not unlike all and any other authoritarian regime.
In this vain Amer, a teacher from the city of Manbij, says "The repent document is, in reality, a document of pressure and terrorization to kill any opponents; as well as a Sharia pretext to give the liquidation of opponents [of the organization] legitimacy," adding that "ISIS previously killed a number of repentant combatants who signed these repentance documents, claiming that they had reneged—such as what happened to Abu Obeida al-Ahmad al-Harith, the Al-Nusra Front Amir [commander]."
Large numbers of teachers have chosen to respond to the organization's statement, despite it not being the first of its kind. In the first such intervention only 200 teachers responded; now, Manbij's mosques are crowded with would-be repentants.
Saad, teacher from the city of Manbij, says: "The previous statement prevented education under the [regime] government curriculum, and deprived teachers of benefits that we do not want to start with; this statement, however, threatened us with death."
The latest statement clearly stated that "Any delay in the declaration of repentance shall be construed as an adamant act of disbelief; against which Sharia provisions shall be applied." It seems that the fear of murder is the secret behind the congested mosques—not faith in the organization's creed.
Who Are the Targets of this 'Repentance?'
This 'repentance' policy is intended to include every Syrian teacher who has taught—even if for one day—since 1970 in Syrian schools; including retired teachers, or those who have left education a long time ago and worked in other professions. This confirms the political dimensions of the decision, as explicitly stated by an ISIS member in the city of Manbij after one Friday prayers to a group of young people: "All of you shall pay allegiance to the [Islamic] State of Caliphate—you and your children, whether voluntarily or coerced." Those who do not pay their allegiance will be forced into silence.
Repentance also involves female teachers, for whom separate mosques were dedicated; yet ISIS—and unlike their male counterparts—did not ask them for personal photographs, as the "official" repentance form requires a copy of the personal ID card as well as a personal image. After that, once receives an "Infidelity Reupdiation" Certificate under the terms of which one undertakes not to make any contact with the Syrian regime of any kind; and even not to accept salaries from the regime, including retirees.
On this specific stipulation, retired teacher Abu Ahmed says: "I do not know what to do after I have been deprived of my unique source of income. I can not leave the home at this age."
The organization last week launched a repentance course in major Manbij mosques, for teachers wishing to teach in schools supervised by ISIS. The course continues for two weeks and is performed in several sections.
One female teacher says: "The organization invited us to repentance course, which actually is a type of Sharia course. Oddly enough, enrollment does not require applicants to hold University or college level; a junior high or high school certificate is enough."
She adds that attendance is mandatory for the session that is held for female teachers on the upper floor of the Fath mosque. Course graduate salaries will be $100 for a female teacher and $150 for male teachers.
Repentance or Allegiance?
The organization is attempting to exploit these repentances for its propaganda—as with the repentance of Raqqa teachers—positioning it as being a voluntary pledge of allegiance and out of ideological and intellectual conviction of the organization and its ideology. Reality, however, points to an entirely different direction: "[bad living] conditions left the majority of teachers with no choice but either to repent or be killed," according to Ahmed, a teacher from the city of Manbij.
He adds: "It was a surprising statement. It left us with no opportunity to manage our affairs; two weeks is not enough time to arrange one's affairs and leave. Emigration will mean automatic confiscation of all you own by the organization on charges of apostasy."
Many teachers in areas under the control of ISIS have started to plan to emigrate, as Ali, a teacher, explains: "I decided to travel to areas beyond the control of the organization. I do not want to lose my or my wife's job, nor my children's education after this age."
It is expected for the repentance drive to later include all segments of society. There will come a moment when the organization will prohibit Syrian citizens to leave its control areas—and has started applying this to teachers, as confirmed by the ISIS person-in-charge for repentance in Manbij: "Any teacher leaving the territory of the Islamic State to teach in regime areas, shall be considered an apostate and the judge shall determine his verdict."