The UAE government has confiscated over 100 copies of a social studies textbook from an upscale American school in Abu Dhabi.
The text books were allegedly portraying Islam in a negative light, as controversy over the Prophet Mohammad cartoons continued to rage across the Muslim world.
Copies of the book 'World Cultures', taught to sixth grade students at the school was confiscated by the Ministry of Education' on Tuesday for allegedly containing in certain chapters a deluge of derogatory remarks against Islam and the Muslim world.
"The text book dubbed Middle East as one of the most dangerous explosive areas in the world and the Muslim conquest of India as the most bloodiest in the world history," a report in the Khaleej Times said.
"Israel is one of a few democracies in north Africa and the Middle East today; the country of Syria has sponsored terrorism by giving aid to radicals in the Palestine Liberation Organisation", excerpts from the book read.
Terming the text as 'racist', Juma Salami, Assistant Undersecretary to Foreign Private Education said the book, published by Silver Burdett Ginn, is insulting to the country's religion and culture.
"While there are clamour for change in the Middle East, one has to understand that these are the books coming from so called 'free world'. This is a typical example of how textbooks are used to manipulate the thought of young minds," Salami said.
{{/usCountry}}"While there are clamour for change in the Middle East, one has to understand that these are the books coming from so called 'free world'. This is a typical example of how textbooks are used to manipulate the thought of young minds," Salami said.
{{/usCountry}}The book would be withdrawn from the syllabus, he said.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Education Haniff Hassan Al Qassimi said, "a more rigorous monitoring system would be implemented to control the content being taught in the private schools."