Azerbaijan Rebukes Turkish Allies Over School Headscarf Criticism
Azerbaijan’s ruling New Azerbaijan Party on October 13 told Turkey’s AKP to stop meddling in its domestic affairs after Turkish officials criticized headscarf restrictions in Azerbaijani schools. The dispute followed a September 21 cabinet decision on school uniforms that did not name the hijab but led some schools to bar girls wearing it. The Azerbaijani party accused Turkish media and AKP-linked figures of spreading false and biased information and using the issue for political pressure.
Azerbaijan’s ruling party pushed back on Oct. 13 after Turkish officials, including an adviser to Erdoğan and AKP legislators, criticized school headscarf restrictions. The New Azerbaijan Party said Turkish media and AKP-linked voices spread misleading claims and should not use the issue to pressure Baku.
The dispute traces to a Sept. 21 cabinet change to uniform rules. It made no direct reference to headscarves, but some schools barred girls wearing it, and reports described effects on teachers. Protests occurred outside Azerbaijan’s Istanbul consulate; President Aliyev cautioned against meddling in national life, though he did not identify Turkey.
The dispute may deepen public debate in Azerbaijan over secular schooling and religious expression, affecting students, families, and teachers who wear headscarves. It could also strain the close Turkey-Azerbaijan relationship if officials continue trading criticism. Because both states are constitutionally secular, the issue may become a test of how allies manage domestic sensitivities while preserving bilateral solidarity.