Politics · Turkey · 1 hr ago
Azerbaijan accuses Turkish officials of inflaming tensions over school headscarf ban
Azerbaijan’s ruling party accused Turkish officials of inflaming a dispute over a headscarf ban in Azerbaijani schools.
The ban was imposed this week, and Turkish presidential adviser Oktay Saral called it unacceptable and urged Baku to reverse it.
The dispute centres on students and teachers wearing headscarves being kept out of schools under new dress rules.
Videos of students protesting spread on Turkish social media, drawing public pressure for Ankara to criticise the ban.
Azerbaijan arrested at least 37 people at protests on Monday and reportedly restricted access to social media platforms.
The ruling party said Turkish media coverage was contrary to the facts and warned that relations between the two countries could suffer.
Ankara has not officially commented, and the sources do not say what happens next.
Azerbaijan’s ruling New Azerbaijan Party accused Turkish officials and media of inflaming tensions over restrictions on headscarves in Azerbaijani schools.
The party said Turkey was using the issue to exert political pressure and interfere in Azerbaijan’s domestic affairs.
The dispute followed criticism from Turkish presidential adviser Oktay Saral and lawmakers from the ruling AKP, who urged Azerbaijan to reverse the practice of turning students away.
Azerbaijan’s school rules adopted on September 21 require uniforms consistent with secular education but do not expressly name headscarves.
Reports said some schools barred girls wearing headscarves, prompting protests and criticism in Turkey.
- Who
- Azerbaijan’s ruling New Azerbaijan Party and Turkish officials, including presidential adviser Oktay Saral and AKP lawmakers.
- What
- Azerbaijan accused Turkish officials and media of inflaming tensions over school restrictions on headscarves.
- When
- The accusation was made on Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
- Where
- Azerbaijan, with criticism and political response involving Turkey.
- Why
- The dispute followed reports that girls wearing headscarves were turned away from Azerbaijani schools and Turkish officials’ calls for the practice to be reversed.
New Azerbaijan Party
Turkish AKP officials
Interpreting Turkish criticism
New Azerbaijan Party
The party said Turkish officials were using the headscarf issue for political manipulation and pressure on Baku.
Turkish AKP officials
Saral and AKP lawmakers said denying students wearing headscarves access to education was unacceptable and urged Azerbaijan to reverse the practice.
Authority over domestic policy
New Azerbaijan Party
The party said no Muslim country had the right to dictate to another or interfere in its affairs.
Turkish AKP officials
Turkish officials called on Azerbaijan to change its approach to the school restrictions.
Azerbaijan amended school dress rules to require clothing to comply with prescribed uniforms and secular education.
Erdoğan condemned school headscarf bans in a speech to the United Nations General Assembly without naming a country.
Azerbaijan adopted a separate dress code for teachers.
Saral called on Baku to reverse the practice, and protests over the school restrictions were reported.
The New Azerbaijan Party accused Turkish officials and media of inflaming tensions over the issue.
- Ruling party
- New Azerbaijan Party (YAP)
- Azerbaijani president
- Ilham Aliyev
- Turkish presidential adviser
- Oktay Saral
- School rules amended
- September 21, 2026
- Teacher dress code adopted
- October 6, 2026
- Arrests reported
- At least 37 people were arrested in Azerbaijan on Monday for protesting against the ban.
What people are saying
Using sensitive issues such as headscarves as a means of political manipulation and division serves neither the unity of the Turkish people nor the solidarity of the Muslim world.
rather than hegemonic tendencies
denying students wearing headscarves access to education in Azerbaijan was unacceptable
Posts on X
Azerbaycan’da başörtülü öğrencilerin eğitim hakkının engellenmesi kabul edilemez! İnancı gereği başını örten bir öğrenciyi okul kapısında bırakmak, hangi vicdana, hangi adalete sığar? Başörtüsü engel değil, inancın gereğidir! Eğitim hakkı hiçbir ideolojik dayatmaya kurban
Demonstrations in Azerbaijan against the headscarf ban in the schools on Monday as internet access has been partially restricted in the country
“I have my hijab on, but they are not letting me study.” Protests have erupted in Azerbaijan on Monday after some schools have prevented female teachers and students wearing the hijab from entering schools after an informal ban
Sources
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