Preventing veiled women from entering schools sparks hundreds of protesters in Baku and Azerbaijani cities

Baku and several Azerbaijani cities witnessed a wave of protests and class boycotts after new uniform rules were implemented that prevented some veiled female students and teachers from entering educational institutions, sparking controversy over whether these measures conflict with the right to education and freedom of belief.

Media reports and human rights organizations said hundreds of students and parents gathered outside a number of schools to protest the barring of their daughters from classes, noting that video clips circulating on social media show students leaving schools in tears and pupils saying goodbye to teachers who were forced to leave their jobs because they insisted on wearing the hijab.

These moves followed recent amendments to the uniform rules based on a government decree that emphasizes the principle of secular education; the decree did not explicitly name a ban on the hijab, which left room for interpretations and strict enforcement by school administrations that also affected teaching staff.

The Azerbaijani Interior Ministry dealt firmly with some gatherings, announcing the arrest of around 37 people on charges of unauthorized assembly, disturbing public order, and clashes with administrative staff, coinciding with reports of restrictions on access to some social media platforms to curb the spread of protest videos.

Rights and social critics intensified their criticism of the measures and called for consultation and a review of the school uniform instructions to find consensual solutions that ensure the continuity of education without depriving girls of their constitutional right to study.