The "hijab ban" crisis has escalated in educational institutions in Azerbaijan, with internal protests and official rejection of the interference of external parties in the crisis, especially Turkey, and an official affirmation of the state's secularism in accordance with the constitution.
Islam is the main religion in Azerbaijan, where Muslims constitute between 91 percent and 99 percent of the total population of approximately 10 and a half million, and the state is considered secular under the constitution.
The Shiites (mostly Twelver Shiites) represent the largest percentage, about 65 percent of the population, and are concentrated in the capital, Baku, the center, and the south, while the Sunnis (followers of the Hanafi and Shafi’i schools of thought) constitute a percentage of up to 35 percent, and are concentrated mainly in the north of the country.
The Ministry of Interior announced the arrest of 37 people on charges of disturbing public order and disrupting the work of educational institutions during the dispute over uniforms, on Monday, October 12.
The media office of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, which is the party of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, also issued a statement on Wednesday, rejecting Turkish interference in the country’s affairs, after the criticism coming from Turkey against the backdrop of the decision to ban the hijab inside the educational institution, in response to comments by Oktay Seral, senior advisor to the Turkish president, and representatives of the ruling Justice and Development Party regarding developments in Azerbaijan.
The statement called on the Turkish side not to interfere in Azerbaijan's internal affairs and not to take steps that would harm the relations of the two countries.
The crisis began on September 21, 2026, with Prime Minister Ali Asadov signing Resolution No. 309, amending the dress code in public schools.
The decision is based on the legislative amendment last July, No. “434” VIIQD issued on July 7, 2026, which included adding the principle of “patriotism and secularism” to the Public Education Law.
President Aliyev approved the amendment to enter into force on July 22, and instructed the Council of Ministers to work on its implementation in all schools and the need for all students and teachers to adhere to the dress code. The Council of Ministers began implementing the decision by issuing Resolution 309.
The decision sparked a wave of internal anger, especially after news and video clips circulated on social media about preventing veiled female students from entering schools and preventing them from studying.
Some portrayed the matter as a war by the state on religion, and anger increased with the arrest of cleric Abjul Suleimanov, on the evening of last September 22, and the court ruled that he be placed in administrative detention for 30 days, due to criticizing the decisions on social media networks, and he wrote that he preferred prison to preventing young girls from education with their headscarves, according to Azerbaijani media.
As anger escalated over the recent steps, the Media and Broadcasting Council in Baku warned that parties were trying to politicize the issue and turn it into a religious dispute, speaking of fake accounts and information manipulation managed from outside the country, according to its assessment, and called on the media and citizens to verify the posts.
Government Resolution No. 309 stipulates that students are not allowed to use any clothing that “violates the unity of the approved school uniform, and does not comply with the principle of secularism in public education.” What is meant here is the head covering or hijab for girls and teachers, even if it is not mentioned explicitly.
On October 6, Resolution No. 325 was issued, which added rules regarding teachers’ clothing, stipulating that they be compatible with the principle of secularism in education.
Officials at educational institutions explained the decision as including a ban on head coverings, and female students and teachers have already been prevented from wearing head coverings and any girl or teacher wearing the hijab has been banned from entering schools.
Users on social media circulated video clips of girls crying after being expelled from school for wearing the hijab.
Scenes of female middle school students returning home crying spread on social media, and there were complaints from veiled teachers who said they were prevented from teaching or were asked to change their clothes.
Pictures and video clips also spread of protest gatherings in front of schools and banners stressing that wearing the hijab should not deprive female students of education.
With Türkiye entering the crisis line and criticism of the government's decision in Azerbaijan coming from Turkish officials, the media office of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party issued a statement rejecting foreign interference in the country's affairs.
The statement said that Türkiye "broadcasts information in the form of slander about Azerbaijan," denouncing criticism related to Azerbaijan's relationship with Israel and its ban on the hijab within the educational institution.
The statement explained that the structure of the secular state of Azerbaijan and its educational policy have become the subject of political manipulation, and called on the Turkish side not to interfere in Azerbaijan’s internal affairs and not to take steps that would harm the relations of the two countries.
