Al Jazeera: Azerbaijan's Schools Block Students and Teachers Wearing Headscarves from Classrooms / Cabinet Bans Clothing Conflicting with the 'Principle of Secularism in Education'

On September 21, Azerbaijan's Cabinet of Ministers amended school uniform regulations and banned clothing deemed to conflict with the 'principle of secularism in education.' The measure effectively targets the hijab, although it is not named.

Al Jazeera wrote: Young girls in the Republic of Azerbaijan are prohibited from entering schools because of wearing a hijab, and they are resisting this action. On September 21, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan amended the regulations on school uniforms and announced a ban on wearing clothes that contradict the "principle of secularism in education"; A measure that actually targets the hijab, although no name has been mentioned.

According to the report, since the beginning of October, schools have prevented veiled students and veiled teachers from entering the classrooms.

"I am a child," pleads one of the schoolgirls. I want to study! I also have this right; But they don't let me study!"

In a video, a teacher tries to hold back tears as he comforts a student who has been forced to choose between his religious beliefs and his education. "You have to take it off like you've committed a crime," he says. don't cry We are by your side. Everything will be fine."

Students who do not wear hijab have also joined the protests in solidarity with their veiled classmates.

"Nobody accepts this situation," says one of them.

Some teachers have also held classes outdoors instead of enforcing the ban. The protesting students also declared their opposition and said: "If they kick us out of the door, we will return through the window."

With the spread of protests across the country, the police arrested 37 people and access to Instagram and TikTok has also been disrupted.