Why Is Azerbaijan’s Hijab Policy Sparking Protests in Turkey?
News Desk
BAKU:A dispute over new school dress regulations in Azerbaijan has sparked protests among students, teachers and citizens, with demonstrations also reaching Turkey, where protesters gathered outside the Azerbaijani consulate in Istanbul.
At the heart of the controversy is a question that extends beyond school uniforms: how can a secular state regulate dress in public institutions without infringing on religious freedom and personal choice?
The controversy follows amendments introduced by the Azerbaijani government last month to regulations governing school uniforms. Although the rules do not explicitly impose a blanket ban on the hijab, authorities have raised objections to clothing they consider inconsistent with the country’s secular principles.
Since the regulations came into effect, reports have emerged of female students and teachers wearing the hijab being prevented from entering classrooms or school premises.
The incidents have triggered public criticism, online campaigns and protests, turning what might ordinarily have been a debate over school dress codes into a wider discussion about constitutional rights and religious expression.
According to Azerbaijan‘s state news agency, APA, the regulations are intended to establish a uniform dress code in public schools and uphold the country’s secular character. Authorities argue that consistent standards of appearance are necessary to maintain discipline, professional conduct among teachers and the standing of educational institutions.
However, critics question whether enforcing uniformity should come at the expense of individuals’ religious choices.
A Secular State and a Religious Question
Azerbaijan has a predominantly Muslim population, with Muslims accounting for approximately 96 per cent of its people. Nevertheless, its constitution defines the country as a secular state and guarantees freedom of religion.
The government has defended the new regulations on the grounds of maintaining order, ensuring professional standards and preserving the reputation of schools. Opponents, meanwhile, argue that the restrictions raise concerns about religious freedom, individual rights and the ability of women to decide how they dress.
The distinction between a general uniform policy and restrictions that disproportionately affect women who wear the hijab has become central to the debate.
While the authorities maintain that the regulations apply within an established educational framework, critics say their implementation could prevent some women and girls from accessing classrooms because of their religious attire.
The controversy has also exposed the challenges facing secular education systems in societies where religious identity remains an important part of everyday life.
‘The Hijab Is a Personal Choice’
For women directly affected by the regulations, the issue is not simply about compliance with a dress code.
Zahra Hasanova, an Azerbaijani teacher affected by the new rules, told Al Jazeera that she had been informed she could no longer wear the hijab at school.
Hasanova said the situation had caused her considerable emotional distress. She maintained that wearing the hijab was a personal decision and argued that the choice to remove it in the future should likewise belong to the individual woman.
Her position reflects the concerns expressed by other opponents of the regulations, who view clothing as an expression of personal autonomy and, for some, religious conviction.
The government, by contrast, has emphasised the importance of consistent standards in educational institutions. The disagreement therefore centres on where the authority of school regulations should end and individual freedom should begin.
Protests, Class Boycotts and an Online Campaign
Opposition to the regulations has spread through demonstrations and social media, where videos circulating online reportedly show female students and teachers wearing hijabs in tears.
Local media reports have also described incidents in which female teachers were denied entry to schools because they wore the headscarf. In response, students at at least two schools reportedly boycotted classes to protest against the restrictions.
These developments suggest that dissatisfaction has moved beyond individual complaints and begun to affect the wider school environment.
For students, parents and teachers, the dispute raises practical questions about access to education, workplace conditions and the enforcement of dress regulations. It also presents a challenge for authorities seeking to maintain uniform standards while responding to public concerns over religious expression.
The protests have drawn attention to the consequences of implementing dress policies when their application is perceived as restricting a particular form of religious practice.
Imprisoned Journalist Joins the Protest
The controversy has also attracted the attention of imprisoned journalist Polad Aslanov, who reportedly launched a hunger strike in opposition to the regulations.
Aslanov was sentenced to prison in 2020 on charges of high treason. His wife, Gulmira Aslanova, shared a message from him on Facebook in which he said that, despite being behind bars, he wanted to protest what he described as a violation of his constitutional rights.
According to the message, Aslanov viewed a hunger strike as the only means available to him to express his opposition.
His intervention has added another dimension to the dispute, linking the controversy over school dress regulations with broader questions about constitutional protections and the right to protest. His claims, however, remain his stated position on the issue.
Aliyev and Erdogan Draw Attention
The controversy has also attracted attention because of statements made by the leaders of Azerbaijan and Turkey.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, speaking at a meeting of his party, said that there should be no interference in people’s lifestyles. Although his remarks have been viewed in the context of the protests outside Azerbaijan’s consulate in Istanbul, he did not explicitly name Turkey.
The statement has consequently fuelled discussion about the political implications of the controversy, although it does not, by itself, establish that Aliyev was responding directly to the demonstrations or to the Turkish government’s position.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, meanwhile, addressed discrimination against Muslim women around the world in his speech to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
His remarks have also drawn attention amid the debate over Azerbaijan’s regulations. However, without clear evidence connecting his speech directly to the school dress controversy, it would be premature to interpret it as an explicit response to Baku’s policy.
No official Turkish government response to Azerbaijan’s new regulations is established in the information available for this report. It is therefore too early to draw firm conclusions about whether the issue has created a diplomatic disagreement between the two countries.
Where Do Secular Principles End and Personal Freedom Begin?
The dispute in Azerbaijan highlights a difficult question confronting secular societies: should uniform dress standards take precedence over an individual’s decision to wear religious clothing, particularly when that decision affects access to education or employment?
Supporters of the regulations argue that public schools need clear and consistent standards. Opponents counter that secularism should not automatically translate into restrictions on religious expression, especially when students and teachers may face exclusion because of their attire.
The distinction is significant. A policy designed to promote uniformity can become a source of controversy when its implementation is seen as limiting personal choice or creating barriers to participation in public life.
The protests in Azerbaijan, alongside the demonstration in Istanbul, have brought these competing principles into sharper focus. They have also placed the government under public scrutiny over how it balances its secular framework with the constitutional guarantee of religious freedom.
Whether the authorities will revise the regulations, clarify their implementation or maintain the current approach remains uncertain. For now, the controversy continues to raise questions about the rights of students and teachers, the role of religion in public education and the limits of state authority over personal appearance.
