Turkey Seeks to Ease Tensions with Azerbaijan Over Hijab Restrictions in Schools

Turkey Seeks to Ease Tensions with Azerbaijan Over Hijab Restrictions in Schools
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Turkey is pursuing diplomatic efforts to contain tensions with Azerbaijan over reports that hijab-wearing students have been barred from some schools, following remarks by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev rejecting foreign interference in his country’s internal affairs.

According to the British outlet Middle East Eye, Turkish officials have indicated that Ankara does not intend to engage in a public dispute with Aliyev. Instead, Turkey has conveyed messages through high-level channels emphasizing its respect for Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and denying any intention to interfere in its domestic policies.

The controversy began in September after Azerbaijani authorities introduced new school uniform rules based on secular principles and formal dress requirements. Although no blanket ban on the hijab was explicitly announced, implementation of the rules reportedly resulted in some hijab-wearing students being denied entry to classrooms.

The measures prompted criticism in Turkey, where activists launched social media campaigns and held protests in Istanbul. Critics compared the situation with restrictions on hijab-wearing in Turkish educational institutions during the 1990s.

On October 2, Aliyev told the ruling New Azerbaijan Party that his country would not accept outside interference in its internal affairs or in the lifestyle of its citizens. An Azerbaijani source reportedly linked his remarks to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s September 23 address to the United Nations General Assembly, in which Erdoğan criticized restrictions on hijab-wearing in some countries.

Turkish officials rejected the suggestion that Erdoğan’s comments were directed at Azerbaijan, saying they primarily concerned policies in European countries, including France and Austria. A senior Turkish official described the dispute as a misunderstanding that Ankara had sought to clarify through high-level communications.

The disagreement comes as Turkey and Azerbaijan maintain close strategic cooperation in energy, transportation and defense. Ankara’s diplomatic efforts appear aimed at preventing the dispute over religious freedom and school policies from damaging bilateral relations.