Key facts
- Azerbaijan began enforcing new uniform rules on September 21, banning clothing that contradicts secularism in state schools.
- Protests have occurred in Baku and southern districts, with dozens detained.
- Turkey's chief adviser called the restrictions "unacceptable" and urged Baku to reverse them.
- Azerbaijan's ruling party accused Turkish officials of an "openly defamatory" information campaign.
- A pro-Iranian hacker group claimed responsibility for an attack on over 100 state websites.
Azerbaijan's education ministry began enforcing new uniform rules last Monday, leading to female pupils being turned away from state schools if they wear hijabs. The move has sparked rare protests in the secular nation, with demonstrations occurring outside schools in the capital, Baku, and in several southern districts. The government stated that the new rules, approved on September 21, ban clothing that contradicts the principle of secularism in education. Similar guidelines were extended to teachers on October 6.
Authorities have detained dozens of people, including activists and parents, in connection with the protests. One activist who launched an online platform offering free lessons to barred pupils has reportedly been detained. Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok have reportedly faced access issues without a VPN.
The dispute has escalated into a diplomatic row with Turkey, Azerbaijan's closest ally. Oktay Saral, a chief adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, called the restrictions "unacceptable" and urged Baku to "reverse this mistake." Several Turkish MPs also voiced criticism, and small demonstrations were held outside Azerbaijan's diplomatic missions in Turkey. Azerbaijan's ruling party accused Turkish officials of an "openly defamatory" information campaign and warned against interference in its internal affairs.
Officials in Azerbaijan have defended the rules, with one MP stating that children do not choose to wear the hijab themselves but are influenced by their families. The authorities have also attributed an attack on over 100 state websites to a "foreign hacker group."