The key facts

  • The amendment of July 7 and decree No. 309 of September 21 do not mention the hijab directly, but schools are turning away girls in headscarves
  • On October 12, the Interior Ministry reported 37 detainees; a case has been opened under Article 233
  • Erdoğan's adviser Oktay Saral called the denial of education to students in headscarves unacceptable; Azerbaijan's ruling party responded that this is interference in internal affairs

Student protests against dress code rules

In Azerbaijan, protests have been going on for almost a week against school rules that are interpreted as a hijab ban. It is children who are demonstrating: girls in Islamic headscarves and classmates, including boys, joining in solidarity. Rallies are rare in the country — police usually disperse any public actions, and protests involving children are unprecedented. After videos of the protests spread on social media, access to Instagram and TikTok was disrupted in the country; internet monitors recorded the blockings, but the authorities did not explain their reasons.

Which rules sparked the dispute

On July 7, Azerbaijan amended the law on general education, strengthening the principle of secular education and obliging students and teachers to comply with dress codes. On September 21, the government adopted decree No. 309, which tightened school uniform rules: additional clothing that violates the standard uniform or contradicts secular education is prohibited. The hijab is not directly mentioned in the document, but some school administrators interpreted the rule as a ban on headscarves and did not allow girls wearing them to attend classes. Compliance issues are decided by the pedagogical council of each school. A separate decision of October 6 established requirements for teachers' clothing; there were reports that women in headscarves were not allowed to teach.

Legal context and positions within the country

Azerbaijan is a predominantly Muslim country, but Article 18 of the constitution separates religion from the state and requires secular education; Articles 42 and 48 protect the right to education and freedom of conscience. Supporters of the schools' actions believe the rules should apply to all students; critics say that turning girls away because of religious clothing violates their rights. The dispute cuts across familiar political lines: some critics of the authorities support the restrictions, while some non-religious Azerbaijanis oppose them. Restrictions on headscarves in schools provoked protests as early as 2010 and in subsequent years.

Testimonies of families and teachers

A literature teacher from Baku with 40 years of experience (who identified herself only by the initials M.S.) told DW that girls in headscarves were not allowed to attend classes at her school: some removed their headscarves, others went home or wanted to study at home; she supported the rules, believing that children are too young to make decisions about religious clothing. A parent with the initials D.A. told DW that this is not a nationwide hijab ban, but a matter of school uniform. Another parent, an opponent of the restrictions, withdrew the interview before publication. Baku resident Sarraf Jabbarov reported on Facebook that his daughter Sevil, an elementary school teacher, was fired for refusing to remove her headscarf, and published a school order issuing her a written warning under the new rules.

Detentions and the authorities' response

On October 12, the Interior Ministry reported the detention of 37 people in connection with the protests: according to the ministry, a group clashed with school staff, damaged property, and tried to obstruct the operation of schools and traffic. A criminal case has been opened under Article 233 on violation of public order; the Interior Ministry did not name the detainees and did not clarify whether there were children among them. The artist and activist Ilkin Huseynov disappeared after launching a project connecting volunteer tutors with students affected by the restrictions; local media, citing relatives, reported that he received 30 days of administrative arrest for allegedly disobeying police. Amnesty International condemned the turning away of girls in hijabs and called for the release of those detained for peaceful protest.

Foreign influences and the dispute with Turkey

Some observers link the new rules to Baku's attempts to counter the influence of neighboring Iran and the growth of religious groups within the country; officials essentially share this interpretation without naming Iran directly. Fazil Mustafa, head of the parliament's committee on public associations and religious organizations, said the authorities are concerned about religious groups under foreign influence and defended the rules. The head of the Caucasus Muslims Board, Allahshukur Pashazade, also warned about foreign interference but called for a peaceful resolution. Alleged foreign involvement has not been independently established. On October 3, protesters gathered outside the Azerbaijani consulate in Istanbul. Adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Oktay Saral, criticized the restrictions, calling the denial of education to students in headscarves unacceptable. The ruling New Azerbaijan Party responded that close relations do not justify interference in internal affairs. For the affected families, the main question remains the same: will children be able to attend school without removing their headscarves.