Key facts
- Azerbaijan defended its new school uniform rules that restrict Islamic headscarves.
- The rules do not explicitly mention the hijab but have led to protests.
- 37 people were detained for disrupting public order during protests.
- Turkey's presidential adviser criticized the rules, calling them unacceptable.
- Azerbaijan's ruling Yeni Azerbaijan Party (YAP) called the Turkish comments "populist and irresponsible."
- YAP warned Turkey against interfering in Azerbaijan's domestic affairs.
BAKU, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Azerbaijan defended on Tuesday its decision to introduce school uniform rules that have led to protests over restrictions on Islamic headscarves, and told close ally Turkey to stay out of its domestic affairs.
Azerbaijan, a secular former Soviet republic with a predominantly Muslim population, introduced rules last month that prohibit school pupils from wearing clothing that departs from the official school uniform or is incompatible with the secular character of state education. The rules do not explicitly mention the hijab, but some protests broke out this week after reports that some pupils and teachers wearing Islamic headscarves were being denied entry to schools.
The Interior Ministry said on Monday that 37 people had been detained for disrupting public order while opposing enforcement of the rules.