Azerbaijan’s education ministry implemented new uniform guidelines earlier this week that prohibit clothing contradicting “the principle of secularism in education” in state schools. The rules, formally approved on 21 September and extended to teachers on 6 October, do not explicitly mention hijabs but have been enforced to turn away female students wearing them. The policy has prompted demonstrations outside educational institutions in the capital Baku and in southern districts including Masally and Jalilabad.
The enforcement has led to detentions and raised concerns about restrictions on religious expression. Authorities reported detaining 37 individuals on Monday for obstructing the rules and disturbing public order. A mother protesting outside a school in Baku’s Mashtaga district was detained, while an activist who created an online platform providing free lessons to barred students has reportedly disappeared after being seen with unidentified men. Social media platforms including Instagram and TikTok have experienced access disruptions in the country during this period.
Government officials have defended the policy, with one parliament member arguing that children lack freedom to independently choose religious practices. Azerbaijan, a constitutionally secular state led by President Ilham Aliyev since 2003, has long enforced secular principles despite having a population that is over 60 percent Shia Muslim. Authorities express concern about religious influence from neighboring Iran.
The controversy has created tension with Turkey, Azerbaijan’s closest ally, which provided crucial support during the 2020 conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. Turkish officials, including President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s chief adviser, have characterized the restrictions as unacceptable and called for their reversal. Demonstrations occurred outside Azerbaijani diplomatic missions in Ankara and Istanbul. Azerbaijan’s government has accused Turkish officials of a defamatory campaign and warned against interference in its internal affairs.
Underlying geopolitical complexities have surfaced, with some Turkish protesters linking the headscarf policy to Azerbaijan’s close relationship with Israel. This connection reflects broader regional tensions, exemplified when delegations from Turkey, Iran, and other nations walked out during an address by Israel’s president at a security summit in Baku.
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