Azerbaijan defends school uniform rules, tells Turkey not to interfere

Baku, Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan on Tuesday defended new school uniform requirements that have prompted protests over restrictions affecting Islamic headscarves, telling its close ally Turkey not to intervene in domestic matters.

Uniform requirements spark protests

The government adopted the requirements last month, barring pupils from wearing items outside the prescribed uniform or clothing considered inconsistent with state education’s secular nature.

Although the regulations contain no explicit reference to the hijab, protests erupted this week following reports that schools had refused admission to some pupils and teachers wearing Islamic headscarves.

On Monday, the Interior Ministry reported that authorities had detained 37 people for public-order violations during opposition to the rules’ enforcement.

Governing party rebukes Turkish critics

The governing Yeni Azerbaijan Party (YAP) on Tuesday criticised Oktay Saral, an adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and members of Turkey’s governing AK Party who had objected to the requirements.

In a social media post on Monday, Saral described the denial of educational rights to Azerbaijani students wearing headscarves as unacceptable. He argued that a headscarf was a religious obligation rather than a barrier and urged Azerbaijan to correct what he considered a mistake without delay.

YAP responded in a statement describing Saral’s remarks as populist and irresponsible. The party warned that his comments could damage ties between the two close allies and maintained that the requirements rested on principles of equality, secular governance and the rule of law.

Dispute tests secular governance

Azerbaijan is a former Soviet republic whose population is predominantly Muslim. Its secular constitution provides for religious freedom and a separation between religious institutions and the state.

The controversy risks putting pressure on relations with Turkey while underscoring the difficulties Azerbaijan faces in maintaining secularism.