An Azerbaijan government decision to indirectly prohibit students and staff from wearing the hijab in schools has sparked protests.
asserted
decision → prohibit → protests
The amendment approved last month stopped short of explicitly banning the Muslim headscarf but barred clothing in schools that the government said violates the “principle of secularism”.
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The decision has sparked protests as some schools began preventing students and teachers from attending classes.
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schools → approve → classes
Teacher Zahra Hasanova told Al Jazeera that she was informed she could no longer wear the hijab at school.
uncertain
she → tell → school
I am hurt,” she said.
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she → hurt → ?
“[The hijab] is a personal choice, and if one day I want to take it off, that should be my choice too.”
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that → want → it
How has the ban played out?
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ban → play → ?
The state-run Azerbaijani Press Agency (APA) said the amendment to the Descriptions of Uniforms for Students of State General Education Institutions aimed to ensure a unified dress code that reflects the country’s “secular principle”.
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that → run → principle
About 96 percent of Azerbaijan’s population identifies as Muslim.
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percent → identify → population
Its constitution defines the country as secular while also guaranteeing religious freedom.
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constitution → define → freedom
The APA added that clothes that reflect the “history, culture, and national and moral values of the Azerbaijani people” may be worn for celebrations pending approval by the Pedagogical Council, which operates under the Ministry of Science and Education.
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which → add → Science
Such clothing ensures that teachers reflect “professional standards” and will have positive effects on the “school’s public reputation”, it said.
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it → ensure → reputation
Have protests taken place?
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protests → take → place
The measure has sparked protests and a social media campaign in Azerbaijan.
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measure → spark → Azerbaijan
Videos circulated showing students hugging their teachers and crying as they were turned away from schools.
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they → circulate → schools
Local media outlets reported that students in at least two schools in Azerbaijan boycotted classes in protest against the restrictions.
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students → report → restrictions
Imprisoned journalist Polad Aslanov, who is serving a 113-year prison sentence after being convicted of high treason in 2020, launched a hunger strike over the new requirements.
“Despite being in prison, I am raising my voice against the trampling of our constitutional rights by employing the only means of struggle available to me – a hunger strike!” Aslanov wrote in a message posted on Facebook by his wife, Gulmira Aslanova.
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Aslanov → imprison → wife
Reports of internet blackouts have not been confirmed by data from watchdogs, including Open Observatory of Network Interference and NetBlocks.
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Reports → confirm → Interference
Have other countries reacted?
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countries → react → ?
A social media campaign followed by protests also spread to Turkiye.
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campaign → follow → Turkiye
Some have drawn parallels between the developments in Azerbaijan and Turkiye’s “post-modern coup” in 1997 when women wearing headscarves were banned from attending university classes and dismissed from their civil service jobs or were forced to resign.
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women → draw → jobs
Demonstrators last week gathered outside Azerbaijan’s consulate in Istanbul to protest the restrictions affecting Muslim women, calling on authorities in Baku to reconsider the decision.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev issued a veiled criticism of Turkiye, a strong ally of Azerbaijan, for the protests.
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Aliyev → gather → protests
In a speech at his New Azerbaijan Party congress, Aliyev warned not to “interfere with our lifestyle” without directly mentioning Turkiye.
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Aliyev → warn → Turkiye
Authorities in Ankara did not officially respond to Aliyev’s comment.
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Authorities → respond → comment
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, however, mentioned in his September 23 address at the United Nations General Assembly that Muslim women were facing increasing discrimination.
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women → mention → discrimination
The Aporia
