Qom, Iran – Ayatollah Ali-Reza Arafi, head of the Islamic seminaries in Iran, has issued a strongly worded statement condemning recent restrictions on wearing the hijab in educational institutions across the Republic of Azerbaijan.
In the statement, Ayatollah Arafi affirmed that the hijab constitutes a mandatory requirement of Sharia law and an integral part of the Islamic way of life, emphasising that no administrative order or man-made legislation can abrogate divine injunctions.
“Sharia precepts cannot be abolished by administrative orders or laws enacted by humans. Such decisions do not exempt Muslims from fulfilling their religious obligations,” the statement read.
The Ayatollah stressed that the hijab represents an expression of faith, modesty, and religious identity for Muslim women, rooted in conscious belief and personal conviction. He declared that no Muslim state holds the authority to strip women and girls of this right or to bar them from education, teaching, scientific pursuits, or public life on account of their observance.
“Such restrictions contradict human rights and human dignity,” the statement added.
Citing verse 31 of Surah An-Nur (The Light), Ayatollah Arafi underscored the Quranic obligation for believing women to observe Islamic dress, stating:
“No one has the right to abolish a clear injunction of the Holy Quran through administrative orders or laws enacted by humans.”
The statement noted that the vast majority of Azerbaijan’s population adheres to Islam and expressed concern over recent measures imposed by state structures affecting female teachers and students.
Ayatollah Arafi called upon the leadership and responsible officials of the Republic of Azerbaijan to respect the religious requirements of the country’s Muslim population, particularly female students and educators.
He further urged authorities not to permit the suppression of religious beliefs or obstruct the fulfilment of religious obligations, grounding these requirements in the Holy Quran and the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them).
The statement marks one of the most prominent clerical responses from Iran regarding the ongoing hijab restrictions in neighbouring Azerbaijan.
Reference: Shia News