New school dress rules in Azerbaijan have kept girls who wear the hijab out of classrooms and led to protests across the country.
New school uniform rules in Azerbaijan have led to protests, arrests and growing concern among families after girls wearing the hijab were turned away from classrooms in several parts of the country.
The rules were introduced through Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 309, adopted on September 21. The resolution bars clothing that is seen as conflicting with the secular nature of public education. It does not mention the hijab by name, but schools have been applying it to headscarves.
Since early October, students wearing the hijab have been kept out of classes in Baku as well as in Jalilabad and Masally. Separate dress code rules for teachers were approved on October 6.
On October 12, Azerbaijan’s Interior Ministry announced that 37 people had been arrested in connection with protests over the rules.
What Azerbaijan’s New School Uniform Rules Say
The amendment updates the official uniform descriptions for students at state general education institutions, with the aim of creating a single dress code across public schools.
Under the new rules, clothing that reflects national and cultural heritage can still be worn during celebrations, but only with approval from the school’s Pedagogical Council, which works under the Ministry of Science and Education.
The legal basis for keeping students out of classes is not clear, as the amendments do not explicitly provide for suspending students who do not follow the dress code.
On October 9, the Baku City Education Department announced inspections to check that both students and teachers were following the new dress rules.
Lawmaker Sevinj Fataliyeva said the requirements were not “a fight against anyone’s religious faith” but a way to protect “a neutral educational space.” The authorities have said the rules are meant to ensure equality among students.
Azerbaijan’s constitution defines the country as a secular state while also guaranteeing freedom of religion. About 96% of the population identifies as Muslim as per the reports.
Protests, Arrests and Reactions to the Hijab Ban in Schools
The rules have drawn a strong response from students, parents and teachers.
Videos shared on social media show students hugging their teachers and crying after being turned away from school. At School No. 69 in Baku’s Balakhany settlement, students held a banner that read, “The hijab does not prevent anyone from getting an education.” In Khokhmeli, some parents said they would stop sending their sons to school in solidarity with the girls who had been sent home.
Teachers have also been affected. Some in the city of Sumgayit were reportedly asked to remove their hijabs or hand in resignation letters. Teacher Zahra Hasanova said she had been told she could no longer wear the hijab at school. “I am hurt,” she said.
The protests escalated on October 12. According to the Interior Ministry, protesters clashed with school staff and tried to disrupt classes and traffic. A school director’s car was set on fire in Baku’s Garadagh district, and there was an attempt to set fire to a school in Yasamal district. No injuries were reported.
The ministry said 37 people were detained and a criminal case was opened on charges of organizing or taking part in actions that disrupt public order, an offense that carries a sentence of up to three years. It did not release the names or ages of those detained.
Protests over the rules have also been held outside Azerbaijan’s consulate in Istanbul.
This is not the first time the hijab has become a point of tension in Azerbaijan’s schools. Restrictions on headscarves in 2010 and 2011 also led to protests and arrests.
Stay tuned for more updates and news!
