A controversial decision by the Azerbaijani government to indirectly restrict students and staff from wearing the hijab in schools has sparked a wave of public protests and deep societal friction. The amendment, approved last month, stops short of an explicit ban on the Muslim headscarf but effectively bars clothing that the authorities claim violates the nation's foundational "principle of secularism." As schools began enforcing the new rules by barring attendance for teachers and students in hijabs, public outcry intensified rapidly.

Speaking to reporters, teacher Zahra Hasanova expressed deep emotional distress over being informed she could no longer wear her headscarf at work, emphasizing that personal dress choices should remain a fundamental individual right. Meanwhile, the state-run Azerbaijani Press Agency (APA) insisted that the updated uniform regulations are designed to enforce a unified professional standard reflecting the country's secular identity. Critics, however, point out the glaring contradiction within a society where approximately 96 percent of the population identifies as Muslim, and the constitution ostensibly guarantees religious freedom.

The restrictive measures have ignited both street demonstrations and an impassioned social media campaign. Widespread footage has circulated online showing distraught students crying and hugging teachers outside school gates after being denied entry. Local media reports further indicated that students at multiple educational institutions have staged formal class boycotts. In an escalation of the crisis, imprisoned journalist Polad Aslanov launched a hunger strike from his cell, denouncing the alleged trampling of constitutional rights by the authorities.

The fallout has notably spilled over into international relations, with solidarity protests erupting outside Azerbaijan's consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. Demonstrators drew concerning parallels to historical political crackdowns, urging Baku to reconsider its stance. In response, Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev issued a thinly veiled rebuke against external interference in the country's domestic affairs. Although Turkish authorities offered no direct official reply, Turkish leadership has publicly lamented the rising tide of global discrimination against Muslim women.

Source: www.aljazeera.com