BAKU — Growing concerns over religious freedom and the right to education have intensified in Azerbaijan amid reports of severe restrictions placed on schoolgirls wearing the Islamic headscarf. At the centre of the controversy is an emotional mother whose recent statement has circulated widely, detailing the distress her family has endured due to alleged harassment by government officials.
According to local reports, the mother expressed profound anguish over the treatment of her daughter, who was allegedly barred from attending school while observing her Islamic dress. “No one can compensate for the tears shed by my daughter,” she stated, emphasising that her child had committed no crime.
Despite their peaceful observance of faith, the family has reportedly faced intense pressure from the state. The mother revealed that she has been receiving persistent calls from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over the past week. The intimidation escalated when four government vehicles arrived at her home, with officials explicitly informing her that her daughter would not be permitted to attend classes in a hijab.
Challenging the state’s justification for the ban, the mother demanded that authorities specify the exact law that criminalises a young girl’s right to practice her faith in an educational setting. She further pointed out what she described as a glaring contradiction in the government’s expectations of its citizens.
“When it comes to defending the country, we are expected to raise our children to be prepared to make sacrifices for the nation,” she noted, adding that she is raising her son to be ready to defend his homeland if necessary. However, she questioned why her daughter is denied the fundamental freedom to dress according to her religious beliefs while pursuing an education. If citizens are expected to lay down their lives for their country, she argued, girls must not be treated as obstacles to the state’s vision simply for observing their faith.
The family’s ordeal has reignited a broader national debate regarding religious freedom, girls’ access to education, and the heavy-handed role of government institutions in policing religious expression. As the mother’s heart-wrenching plea continues to resonate, it leaves the public asking a vital question: should a child’s religious convictions ever become a barrier to her right to learn?
Reference: ABNA24