Azerbaijan defends hijab rules as school protests spark Turkey dispute

Azerbaijan’s ruling party has defended new school uniform regulations following protests over restrictions on Islamic headscarves, while warning close ally Turkey against interfering in its domestic affairs.

The governing Yeni Azerbaijan Party (YAP) criticised an adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and lawmakers from Turkey’s ruling AK Party for opposing the regulations, arguing that Azerbaijan’s education policies should be respected.

The dispute has exposed tensions between the two closely allied countries over religious expression, secular education and the limits of political intervention in domestic affairs.

Azerbaijan introduced the new school uniform rules last month, requiring pupils to wear clothing that complies with official dress standards and does not conflict with the secular character of state education.

Although the regulations do not explicitly prohibit the hijab, protests erupted this week following reports that some pupils and teachers wearing Islamic headscarves had been denied entry to schools.

The controversy has drawn attention to the challenges of balancing religious freedom with the secular principles underpinning Azerbaijan’s education system.

Turkey criticises restrictions on headscarves

Oktay Saral, an adviser to Erdogan, publicly criticised the restrictions in a post on X on Monday, describing the reported denial of education to students wearing headscarves as unacceptable.

“A headscarf is not an obstacle; it is a requirement of religious belief,” Saral wrote, calling on Azerbaijan to reverse the decision as soon as possible.

His remarks added an international dimension to the dispute, prompting a sharp response from Azerbaijan’s ruling party.

YAP described Saral’s comments as “populist and irresponsible”, arguing that such statements risked damaging relations between the neighbouring allies.

The party maintained that the uniform regulations were based on equality, secularism and the rule of law, presenting them as part of the country’s established approach to state education.

It also noted that Turkey’s constitution defines the country as secular and cautioned Ankara against using Azerbaijan’s education policies for political purposes.

The party’s response underscored Baku’s insistence that decisions concerning its schools should be made domestically rather than influenced by political figures from abroad.

Arrests reported during protests

The dispute has also led to enforcement action against demonstrators.

Azerbaijan’s Interior Ministry said on Monday that 37 people had been detained for disrupting public order while protesting against the implementation of the school uniform rules.

The reported detentions came as concerns grew over the treatment of students and teachers who wear Islamic headscarves.

Azerbaijan is a predominantly Muslim country, but its constitution separates religion from the state and guarantees freedom of religion.

The government has not explicitly named the hijab in its new regulations. However, reports of students being refused entry to schools have fuelled concerns among those who believe the rules restrict the expression of religious beliefs.

The controversy has therefore centred not only on school dress codes but also on how secular education policies are interpreted and enforced in practice.

‘One nation, two states’ principle invoked

Azerbaijan’s ruling party also invoked the longstanding principle of “one nation, two states”, commonly used to describe the close relationship between Azerbaijan and Turkey.

YAP said the countries’ strong ties did not give either side the right to interfere in the other’s internal affairs or impose political and ideological positions.

The warning reflected Baku’s determination to protect its policy independence despite its close strategic and cultural relationship with Ankara.

The party also rejected criticism of Azerbaijan’s close relations with Israel, saying those ties were based on international law and mutual interests.

Turkey and Azerbaijan maintain close political, economic and security relations, making the public disagreement over school uniforms particularly notable.

The dispute now places both governments in a delicate position as they seek to preserve their partnership while navigating differences over religion, secularism and national sovereignty.

For Azerbaijan, the central question remains how its uniform regulations will be enforced in schools and whether pupils who wear Islamic headscarves will be allowed to attend classes without restrictions.

For Turkey, the controversy has highlighted the sensitivity of religious freedom issues among its political leadership and the limits of its influence over a close ally.

The episode has brought a domestic education policy into the spotlight of regional diplomacy, testing the balance between shared ties and each country’s right to determine its own rules.