Implementation of New School Uniform Regulations
Azerbaijani authorities arrested 37 people in Baku following rare public protests and class boycotts triggered by newly enforced school uniform regulations that effectively bar the hijab, according to Meduza. The Cabinet of Ministers approved amendments in September enforcing a unified dress code and a “secular dress code” for pupils, with requirements extending to teachers starting October 6. While the regulatory texts stop short of explicitly naming the Muslim headscarf, schools began actively enforcing the rules on October 12 by preventing hijab-wearing students and teachers from attending classes, according to Al Jazeera. Videos circulating online showed emotional scenes of students and staff being turned away at school gates. Local media outlets reported that students in at least two institutions, including School No 69 in Baku and B Shiriyev Secondary School in the Mollaoba village of the Masally district, boycotted classes in protest against the restrictions. In addition, a hijab-wearing teacher at Richard Sorge Secondary School No 90 in Baku was reportedly dismissed, prompting further student walkouts and emotional scenes captured on video where students hugged departing educators. Students who came to school improperly dressed were reportedly subjected to talks involving school doctors and psychologists, while their parents were summoned for explanations by school administrations.
Protests, Clashes, and Security Crackdowns
The enforcement measures sparked rare unsanctioned demonstrations in a country where public gatherings are tightly controlled. According to the Interior Ministry’s press service cited by OC Media, protesters “created confrontational situations” with school staff, obstructed traffic, and damaged state educational institutions. In Baku’s Garadagh district, a school director’s car was set on fire, while an arson attempt was reported at a school in the Yasamal district, though no injuries occurred during either incident. Authorities swiftly opened a criminal case under charges of organizing or actively participating in actions that disrupt public order, carrying a maximum penalty of up to three years in prison. The security crackdown widened as the Interior Ministry confirmed the arrest of 37 individuals. Public demonstrations surrounding headscarf restrictions in public institutions carry deep historical precedent in the country; similar restrictions between 2010 and 2012 triggered parallel protests that were ultimately dispersed by police forces and followed by wave arrests.
Social Media Restrictions and Communication Controls
Concurrently, users across Azerbaijan reported widespread difficulties accessing popular online platforms such as Instagram and TikTok without utilizing Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). Outage-monitoring platforms recorded complaints from within the country regarding sluggish connections, failing video feeds, and media content refusing to load. Although global network disruptions were absent, digital rights groups and observers noted widespread speculation that authorities clamped down on internet platforms to stem the viral spread of raw video footage showing students protesting outside school buildings and crying teachers being denied entry at the gates. State bodies have not officially commented on the reported social media access issues, and major tech platforms have likewise remained silent. The communication controls run parallel to wider digital containment strategies deployed during periods of domestic political friction.
State Rationale and Institutional Context
Defending the policy, Azerbaijani lawmaker Sevinj Fataliyeva stated that the requirements aim to establish a neutral educational space that smooths over social and religious differences among children, as reported by Meduza. The state-run Azerbaijani Press Agency (APA) emphasized that the regulations uphold the country’s constitutional secularism while preserving national and moral values through approved celebrations. About 96 percent of Azerbaijan’s population identifies as Muslim, and while the constitution defines the state as secular, it simultaneously guarantees freedom of conscience under Article 48. Critics and demonstrators, however, argue the measures infringe on fundamental religious freedoms and educational access. Highlighting the depth of local dissent, imprisoned journalist Polad Aslanov—serving a lengthy sentence after a 2020 high treason conviction that he denies—launched a hunger strike from Penitentiary Facility No 15 over the new dress code requirements, arguing that his own child’s educational access and the rights of female educators and students are being severely violated.
International Fallout and Regional Reactions
The controversy has also drawn international friction, sparking solidarity protests outside Azerbaijan’s consulate in Istanbul, Türkiye, where demonstrators called on authorities in Baku to reconsider the rules. The mobilization in Türkiye drew explicit comparisons to the country’s 1997 “post-modern coup” era when headscarves were barred in universities and civil service posts. This cross-border solidarity prompted a veiled warning from Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev against foreign interference in domestic lifestyles during a congress speech for the ruling New Azerbaijan Party. Although Turkish authorities did not formally reply to Aliyev’s remarks, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had previously addressed rising global discrimination against Muslim women during a late September address at the United Nations General Assembly. As regulatory enforcement continues across Baku and regional districts, the confrontation underscores long-standing tensions between state-enforced secularism and individual religious practice.