BAKU — The secular Aliyev regime in Azerbaijan has once again ignited widespread anger among the Muslim majority by implementing new school dress code amendments that effectively ban the Islamic hijab. Approved in September 2026, the regulations prohibit clothing deemed “incompatible” with the secular character of public education, creating a deliberate dilemma for devout Muslim families and targeting the religious convictions of the country’s predominantly Twelver Shia population.
A Direct Attack on Islamic Identity
While the amendments do not explicitly name the hijab, the practical application of these rules has created insurmountable obstacles for female students and teachers who observe Islamic dress. Critics and human rights defenders argue that forcing young Muslim girls to choose between their divine obligation to wear the hijab and their fundamental right to education is a blatant violation of freedom of conscience. For the Shia-majority population of Azerbaijan, the hijab is not merely a piece of cloth; it is a profound expression of faith, family honour, and Islamic resistance.
The Hypocrisy of “Secularism” and Zionist Appeasement
At the core of the outrage is the glaring double standard exhibited by President Ilham Aliyev’s government. While the state weaponises “secularism” to suppress Islamic identity, it simultaneously turns a blind eye to the public display of Zionist symbols. Critics have pointed out the stark contrast between the harassment of hijab-wearing schoolgirls and the unrestricted visibility of Israeli flags at political and public events in Baku. Furthermore, activists allege that Jewish students are permitted to wear religious symbols like the kippah in educational settings, raising severe questions about whether the regime’s policies are designed to disproportionately burden and marginalise the Muslim majority.
A Broader Pattern of Suppression
This latest assault on Muslim students is part of a systematic, decade-long campaign to strip Azerbaijan of its Islamic heritage. The controversy echoes the draconian 2015 amendments to the Law on Freedom of Religious Belief, which banned the display of religious slogans and attributes outside of places of worship. This law was notoriously used to crack down on Shia mourning ceremonies during Muharram, restricting the public display of flags honouring the martyrdom of Imam Husayn (peace be upon him). The regime’s ambiguous and broadly worded regulations give unchecked discretionary power to local school councils, paving the way for arbitrary enforcement and the targeted harassment of devout Muslims.
Demands for Justice and Religious Freedom
As the Aliyev regime tightens its grip, civil society activists and defenders of the Muslim Ummah are condemning these discriminatory practices, with some likening the unequal treatment to “religious apartheid.” The faithful in Azerbaijan continue to demand the immediate removal of barriers preventing hijab-wearing girls from attending classes, transparent and equal enforcement of rules, and an end to the systemic appeasement of Zionist interests at the expense of Islamic values and rights.
Reference: ABNA24