Muktada al-Sadr Condemns Azerbaijan’s Hijab Ban, Cites Secular Extremism

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Iraqi Shia leader Muktada al-Sadr has issued a strong condemnation of the recent decision by Azerbaijani authorities to prohibit the hijab. In a statement, al-Sadr emphasized that while he does not interfere in the internal affairs of Muslim countries, his duty as a proponent of good and opponent of evil compels him to speak out and offer counsel.

Al-Sadr likened Azerbaijan’s secular extremism to that of ISIS, asserting that such decisions actively promote and intensify extremism within a nation aspiring to be a model of moderation. He questioned the secular narrative that opposition to Islamic practices constitutes secularism, arguing that true secularism should uphold personal freedoms and non-interference in individual choices. Al-Sadr stated that the ban on hijab, mistakenly viewed by some as a path to secularization and liberation for women from religious attire, would instead encourage modest women towards the hijab and lead others astray into worldly temptations. He further warned that such a move would increase Western and Israeli influence in Azerbaijan.

Describing the ban as a “political decision,” al-Sadr asserted that it aims to sideline moderate Islam and solidify secular control over the government. He referenced the experiences of other nations, such as Tunisia and Turkey, where attempts to ban religious practices like fasting and the hijab ultimately failed. Turkey, he noted, eventually lifted such prohibitions due to a growing number of women embracing the hijab. Al-Sadr urged Azerbaijani officials to learn from these past experiences and consider the significant repercussions of their decision.