BAKU — Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Mohammad Yaqubi has strongly condemned the Azerbaijani government’s decision to bar hijab-wearing schoolgirls from attending classes, calling for an immediate reversal of what he described as a grave violation of their fundamental right to education.
In a statement released to mark International Chastity Day—coinciding with the auspicious birth anniversary of Hazrat Zainab (SA)—the prominent cleric expressed profound distress over reports and footage of young girls being forcibly removed from their classrooms. Ayatollah Yaqubi highlighted the emotional trauma inflicted on the students, noting the tears of the expelled girls and the shock of their peers at school entrances.
“What crime have these girls committed to be denied their right to education?” the Ayatollah asked. He challenged the Azerbaijani authorities’ justification of the ban under the guise of secularism, emphasising that Islam and its traditions are deeply woven into the fabric of Azerbaijani society. He pointed out the stark contradiction of enforcing such restrictions in a nation where 96 percent of the population is Muslim, noting that Muslims globally have previously rallied against similar anti-hijab measures in Western nations.
Addressing Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev directly, Ayatollah Yaqubi appealed to his sense of paternal leadership. He invoked a saying of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to Imam Ali (AS): “O Ali, you and I are the fathers of this nation.” The Grand Ayatollah reminded the President that these schoolgirls are the spiritual daughters of Hazrat Fatima al-Zahra (SA), striving to uphold her legacy of modesty. He suggested that local school administrators may have overstepped in implementing the ban and urged the President to intervene, hold the responsible parties accountable, and rectify the injustice.
Ayatollah Yaqubi stressed that reversing the ban would not weaken state authority but rather demonstrate wisdom, courage, and foresight, ultimately preventing social unrest and preserving the country’s Islamic heritage. However, he also issued a stern warning regarding divine accountability. Citing the Holy Quran (Surah as-Saffat, Chapter 37, The Ranged Ones, Verse 24), “And stop them; indeed, they are to be questioned,” he cautioned that those responsible for this oppression will face justice on the Day of Judgement.
The statement concluded by recalling a parallel situation in Iraq under a previous administration, where authorities attempted to force female students to remove their hijabs for national examination ID photos. Following widespread public outcry and intervention by religious scholars, the Iraqi government retracted the policy, blaming miscommunication by implementing authorities. Ayatollah Yaqubi cited this as a clear precedent, demonstrating that reconsidering oppressive policies prevents unnecessary harm to the youth and safeguards their educational futures.
Reference: ABNA24