In brief
A new Azerbaijani law banning hijabs in state schools has turned school gates into protest venues. Viral footage of a teenage girl demanding her right to attend classes has inspired crowds to chant in Baku and southern districts. The move has drawn sharp criticism from Turkish officials, who see the rule as an affront to religious freedom. Meanwhile, activists are using digital platforms to help barred students, but social media access has been disrupted.
A new Azerbaijani law says students must follow a strict school uniform, meaning girls wearing hijabs are barred from classrooms.
When a teenage girl in a navy‑blue hijab asked a staff member if she could come to school, her video went viral, sparking protests outside schools in Baku and other cities.
Such demonstrations are rare in the oil‑rich country; the government calls itself secular and has cracked down on dissent. 37 people were detained the same week for blocking the new rules.
The ban has also rattled Turkey, Azerbaijan’s close ally. Turkish officials and activists labeled the restrictions “unacceptable,” holding small protests outside the Azerbaijan embassy in Ankara and Istanbul.
Meanwhile, activists launched an online platform to share free lessons for students denied classroom access. Social media sites like Instagram and TikTok have faced connectivity issues, raising concerns about censorship.
The conflict sits on a broader regional balance: Azerbaijan navigates ties with Iran, Turkey and Israel, while defending its stance on secularism and religious expression.
