Azerbaijan Defends School Dress Code Amidst Hijab Protests and Turkey Dispute

Azerbaijan's government has defended its strict new school uniform regulations, which have sparked protests due to restrictions on Islamic headscarves. The nation has also urged its close ally, Turkey, to refrain from interfering in its internal affairs after Ankara expressed displeasure with the decision. Azerbaijan, a former Soviet republic with a majority Shia Muslim population, maintains a secular constitution that separates religion and state, guaranteeing freedom of religion. Since gaining independence, it has established itself as one of the most secular countries in the Muslim world.

Last month, the Azerbaijani government introduced new regulations prohibiting students from attending school in attire that deviates from the official uniform or is inconsistent with the secular nature of state education. While the hijab was not explicitly mentioned, reports emerged that female students and teachers wearing Islamic headscarves were denied entry to schools. This led to protests, with the Interior Ministry reporting 37 arrests for public order disturbances. In Baku, clashes occurred between individuals and school staff over the new dress code, resulting in property damage and attempts to disrupt classes. Social media videos showed students embracing teachers barred from entering schools and younger students protesting their exclusion.

Amidst the protests, Azerbaijani social media users reported difficulties accessing platforms like Instagram and TikTok, where videos of the demonstrations were being shared. Users complained of videos failing to load and news feeds not updating, with some resorting to VPNs for access. The hijab controversy has also created friction between Azerbaijan and Turkey.

The ruling New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) criticized an advisor to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and lawmakers from his Justice and Development Party (AKP) for speaking out against the new regulations. Advisor Oktay Saral stated that denying education to Azerbaijani students wearing headscarves was "unacceptable," calling the hijab a "religious obligation." YAP condemned Saral's remarks as "populist and irresponsible," warning they jeopardize relations between the two close allies. The party emphasized that the new regulations are based on equality, secularism, and the rule of law, noting that Turkey is also constitutionally secular. YAP cautioned Ankara against using Azerbaijan's educational policy for political gain, asserting that the "one nation, two states" principle does not justify interference in internal affairs or the imposition of political views.

The dispute threatens to strain relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey, highlighting Baku's challenges in enforcing secularism. Protesters gathered outside the Azerbaijani consulate in Istanbul last week. Some on Turkish social media drew parallels to Turkey's post-1997 coup period, when headscarves were banned in universities and public workplaces.

Azerbaijan, like Iran, is predominantly Shia Muslim but maintains warm relations with Israel, largely due to deep security cooperation and significant arms sales from Israel. They also share economic interests, particularly Azerbaijan's oil exports to Israel. Cultural and historical ties are bolstered by an ancient Jewish community in Azerbaijan and a low incidence of antisemitism. These close ties with Israel often draw criticism towards Baku from the Muslim world, primarily from Iran but sometimes from Turkey as well. The YAP statement also pushed back against Ankara's criticism of Azerbaijan's relations with Israel, stating they are based on international law and mutual interests.