The tightening of the dress code in schools in Azerbaijan has led to protest actions.
Students of a school in a suburban settlement of Baku protested against the tightening of dress code requirements for students. Convicted Azerbaijani journalist Polad Aslanov declared a hunger strike amid reports of schoolgirls in hijabs being denied access to classes.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", in September, the Azerbaijani government made changes to the rules regulating the appearance of students in public schools. Now, students are prohibited from wearing clothing items that violate the unified standard of uniform or do not correspond to the secular nature of education. The reform aims to completely eliminate religious, ethnic, and socio-economic differences in educational institutions, explained parliament member Jeyhun Mamedov. Although the official statement does not mention hijabs, it is implied under clothing that is "not in accordance with the secular nature of education," believes human rights defender Arzu Abdulla.
Hijab is clothing worn by a Muslim woman that covers the body except for the face and hands. Wearing a hijab is mandatory for a Muslim woman. In the modern world, hijab is most often understood as an Islamic women's headscarf.
Students of school No. 69 in the village of Balakhany near Baku refused to attend classes after their classmates, who came in hijabs, were reportedly not allowed into the school, JAMnews reported on October 9.
"In videos circulating on social media, students are seen standing outside the building with a poster saying 'Hijab is not an obstacle to education!' and demanding that girls be allowed to attend classes," the publication states.
After the change in school clothing rules, there were reports on social media that in various schools in Azerbaijan, girls in headscarves are not allowed to attend classes, the publication writes.
Complaints that girls in hijabs are not allowed to classes in schools have come not only from the village of Balakhany but also from Jalilabad and other regions of Azerbaijan. Parents and students complain that school administrations are demanding that they remove their hijabs, Meydan TV reported on its website on October 9.
Baku Education Department announced checks on dress code compliance
According to the publication, the Baku Education Department announced on October 9 the start of checks on compliance with school uniform rules in public schools. Officials emphasized that ensuring compliance with the dress code is the responsibility of the school administration, and any arising issues should be discussed and resolved at school pedagogical councils. The department added that the responsibility for students attending classes in the established uniform lies with the parents.
However, the department's statement did not mention complaints about students in hijabs being denied access to classes. It also did not clarify how the right to education will be ensured for students who do not comply with the dress code, the publication states.
On October 6, the cabinet also approved requirements for the appearance of teachers. According to the new rules, educators must adhere to a business style of clothing that corresponds to the principle of the secular nature of education, the publication noted.
Convicted journalist declared a hunger strike in protest against the dress code in schools
Convicted editor-in-chief of the online publications Xeberman.com and Press-az.com Polad Aslanov stated that the rights of schoolgirls and female teachers wearing hijabs are being violated, and declared a hunger strike in correctional colony No. 15 starting October 8. The journalist's statement was made public by his wife, the publication also writes.
Polad Aslanov noted that a few days ago he sent an open letter to the chairman of the Caucasian Muslims Office Allahshukur Pashazade, but received no response. He believes that the dress code restrictions introduced by the Ministry of Science and Education and the cabinet of ministers violate Article 48 of the Constitution of Azerbaijan, which guarantees freedom of conscience.
They forced us to choose between education or profession and wearing a headscarf
"I declare that I have started a hunger strike - while being behind prison walls and behind iron bars - in protest to protect the rights of my own child and all other schoolgirls in hijabs whose right to education has been restricted, as well as the rights of all female teachers, mothers, and sisters who wear hijabs, who have been forced to choose between education or profession and wearing a headscarf. Even though I am in prison, I stand against the violation of our constitutional rights, using the only means of struggle available to me - a hunger strike!" - the publication quotes the journalist's statement.
On November 16, 2020, the court sentenced Polad Aslanov to 16 years in prison, finding him guilty of treason. The journalist's appeal was not granted, and the cassation court reduced his sentence by three years, to 13 years in prison. The convicted man's wife believes that her husband is being persecuted for covering human rights violations and the cases of political prisoners. International journalist organizations have called on the Azerbaijani authorities to release Aslanov.
Attempts to ban hijabs in schools have also occurred in Russia
In the southern republics of Russia, in 2024, the decision of the authorities of the Vladimir region to ban religious clothing in schools caused a wide resonance. Political and religious figures demanded the repeal of the ban, according to the "Caucasian Knot" report "Main points about the hijab ban in schools of the Vladimir region".
In the same year, the vice-speaker of the State Duma of Russia, Vladislav Davankov, proposed granting educational institutions the right to prohibit religious clothing. A deputy from Chechnya Adam Delimkhanov criticized his colleague for this bill, promising to "clearly" explain to him and others what "religious traditional values and customs" are. Islamic scholars and human rights defenders considered the project to ban religious clothing in schools discriminatory. The cabinet rejected Davankov's bill.
The head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov in July 2024 called those who say not to wear hijabs enemies of Islam. "Whoever tells my daughter to take off her hijab, I will kill him immediately, I will shoot him, whoever it may be. This is an enemy," he stated.
At the same time, earlier the authorities of Chechnya had made contradictory demands regarding the dress code for women. The "Caucasian Knot" has prepared a report on this "Cover the head, but not the face: women's dress code in Chechnya".
Who opposed hijabs and niqabs in Russia in 2024, why this did not please Kadyrov's entourage, and how there were previous attempts to introduce a ban on wearing religious clothing in schools and universities in the country can be read in the report "Main points about the new attempt to ban hijabs in Russia".