Muslim Schoolchildren Protest Against Hijab Restrictions in Azerbaijan
Pupils boycotted classes after classmates in hijabs were barred, as teachers reported being told to uncover their hair or resign, officials said.
- Following government regulations requiring secular dress for teachers, reports indicate that hijab-wearing pupils and teachers have been barred from schools across Azerbaijan, prompting schoolchildren to organize protests and class boycotts.
- Legislative changes reinforced the secular character of public education in recent months, culminating in Cabinet and Ministers amendments on September 21 prohibiting clothing conflicting with secular education, followed by further regulations on October 6 requiring teachers' compliance.
- Incidents in Balakhany and Masally show pupils and teachers being turned away, with teacher Zahra Hasanova publicly challenging restrictions after being prevented from teaching while wearing her hijab.
- Imprisoned journalist Polad Aslanov began a hunger strike on October 8 protesting treatment of hijab-wearing students, while theologian Abgul Suleymanov was sentenced to 30 days administrative detention for his public criticism of the restrictions.
- While Muslims account for approximately 96% of Azerbaijan's population, the nation maintains strict constitutional separation between religion and state since independence. Under President Ilham Aliyev, extensive government oversight of religious activities complicates this secular education debate.
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45 Articles
Azerbaijan schools turn away headscarf-wearing girls, teachers
Students and teachers wearing headscarves have reportedly been turned away from schools in Azerbaijan following changes to school dress-code rules, prompting protests, class boycotts and widespread criticism on social media. Videos circulating online show schoolgirls crying after allegedly being denied entry, teachers comforting distressed pupils and students demanding the right to attend classes without removing … Get the latest updates in Hyde…
Azerbaijan has imposed restrictions on the wearing of the hijab in public schools, sparking protests after female students and teachers wearing the headscarf were banned from entering educational institutions. The decision follows changes to school uniform regulations approved by the government in September. While the document does not explicitly ban the hijab, it does prohibit clothing that authorities say is incompatible with the principle of …
The controversy over wearing headscarves in schools is currently boiling in Azerbaijan, where the vast majority of the population professes Islam. The trigger was a government decree from September 21st, which mandates a secular dress code in schools. Some schools then began to prevent girls wearing the hijab from entering, or to fire teachers with their hair covered. This subsequently sparked protests in other Muslim countries.
The Azerbaijanis took to the streets because of the ban on hijabs at school.
In Azerbaijan, protests began following the legislative ban on wearing hijabs in schools, and after the introduction of a uniform in the country, a ban on the use of any elements of clothing contrary to the principle of secularism in general education was introduced at the legislative level.
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