In brief
A new school uniform rule in Azerbaijan that effectively bans the hijab has led to protests, arrests and foreign diplomatic pressure. The government, citing secularism and concerns about Iranian influence, has enforced the ban across state schools. Students and parents have taken to the streets while Turkish officials publicly decried the policy and called for a reversal. The dispute has highlighted the delicate balance between religious expression, security concerns and international alliances in the South Caucasus.
Two schoolgirls in Baku’s navy blue hijabs were turned away at the entrance of their school today after the government began enforcing a new uniform rule that prohibits clothing that “contradicts the principle of secularism in education”.
The move, approved by the education ministry on 21 September, leaves hijabs unmentioned but effectively bans the most visible sign of Islamic faith in state schools, sparking outcry across the 10‑million‑strong nation.
Videos of protests have spread on social media, showing female students standing behind the school’s front door clutching a banner that reads, “The hijab does not prevent anyone from getting an education.” The interior ministry reported detaining 37 people for “grossly violating public order.”
Human‑rights groups warn that the curbs risk infringing religious freedom, while the government stresses the country’s constitutional secularism and fears of Iranian influences that may seek to exploit perceived sectarian divisions.
The ruling has drawn ire beyond Azerbaijan’s borders. Turkish officials and supporters of the ruling party have called the regulations “unacceptable,” with small demonstrators gathering outside the Azerbaijani embassy in Ankara and its consulate in Istanbul. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s adviser, Oktay Saral, urged Baku to “reverse this mistake,” citing the importance of a “pious generation.”
In a response, legislators in Baku denied interference and warned that Turkish remarks could damage diplomatic ties, reminding the PM that the “way of life” is independent of foreign comment.
For photo and illustration, readers can refer to the image above captured by Azerbaijani social media.
