A series of spontaneous protests have broken out across several cities and districts in Azerbaijan after female students wearing hijabs were reportedly barred from attending classes. Students have staged classroom boycotts in solidarity with their peers, while parents vehemently demand that authorities refrain from depriving children of education due to religious attire.

The controversy allegedly stems from newly implemented school uniform regulations approved by a government decree. Although the document does not explicitly ban the hijab, officials have practically applied its provisions to target traditional headscarves. Critics point out that the regulation itself does not provide for the suspension of students as a legal penalty for dress code violations.

Amid the escalating social friction, law enforcement agencies in Azerbaijan claimed to have detained 37 individuals and initiated criminal proceedings for allegedly organizing actions that disrupt public order. According to the authorities' contested narrative, the detainees engaged in conflicts with educators and obstructed school operations, though the precise circumstances and legal basis for each arrest remain murky.

The restrictive dress code enforcement has purportedly expanded beyond students to target teaching staff as well. Following the approval of separate regulations for educators, reports emerged indicating intense pressure on female teachers wearing hijabs in Baku and Sumgayit, with administrators allegedly forcing them to choose between removing their headscarves and resigning.

The authorities continue to defend the restrictions, citing the necessity of enforcing a standardized uniform policy and upholding the secular nature of the educational system. Conversely, opponents argue that these heavy-handed measures severely infringe upon religious freedoms and marginalize observant families, noting that the backlash has even crossed borders with protests held outside the Azerbaijani consulate in Istanbul.

Source: podrobno.uz