Azerbaijan Schools See Protests Over Hijab Ban Amidst Teacher Dismissal and Journalist Hunger Strike
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, students in various schools across the Republic of Azerbaijan have refused to attend classes in protest against new regulations affecting veiled students. The Baku Department of Education has initiated monitoring to ensure compliance with these new requirements in public schools.
These measures have drawn criticism from students and parents, who argue that the regulations infringe upon the right to education for veiled girls. The constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan guarantees the right to free and compulsory general secondary education.
Reports from Medan TV and social media videos indicate that students from School No. 69 in Baku and B. Shiriyev Secondary School in the village of Mullaoba, Masalli District, have boycotted classes. They are demanding the readmission of their veiled classmates.
In a separate incident, a veiled teacher at Richard Sorge Secondary School No. 90 in Baku was reportedly dismissed, according to Medan TV. Images shared by the outlet showed emotional students embracing their teacher.
Pulad Aslanov, a journalist currently imprisoned, has also begun a hunger strike in protest against the revised school uniform regulations, which were approved by the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers on September 21. The director of the “Khiriman” news portal announced that he commenced his hunger strike on Thursday to protest these restrictions. His wife, Gulmira Aslanova, confirmed his protest in a Facebook post, stating that Aslanov is being held in Correctional Facility No. 15.
Aslanov stated that the purpose of his hunger strike is to draw public attention to the denial of education for veiled students and the restrictions placed on teachers’ attire. He also highlighted that his own child’s right to education has been curtailed. He declared, “I announce that I have begun a hunger strike to defend the rights of my child and all veiled students whose right to education has been limited. I am also striking to defend the rights of all veiled female teachers who are forced to choose between their education and wearing the hijab.”
