Azerbaijan: conflict over headscarf ban at schools
Without explicitly mentioning headscarves, the Azerbaijani government has passed a decree that bans religious clothing in state schools, on the grounds that it contradicts the principle of secularism in the education system and undermines school uniform rules. The ban has led to protests and violence in Baku. In Turkey, too, it is being sharply criticised, especially by government supporters there.
Only strengthening Iran's hand
Baku should reverse this measure, columnist Hilal Kaplan urges in Sabah:
“Speaking as a child of a country that suffered under this ban for decades, I say: we do not want our brothers and sisters to have to go through the same ordeal. We have seen where such bans lead. ... We know how this leads to headscarves having to be removed at school gates, unfinished school education, years of pointless debate. ... It is said that this is a struggle against Iran's influence. Yet bans have never, at any point in history, weakened people's bond with their faith. On the contrary, they have only strengthened it. ... This ban does not weaken Iran's hand. Rather it bestows upon Iran the role of 'protector', which it doesn't actually play.”
More contentious than the Israel issue
The Spectator points out that the hijab ban is a bigger bone of contention between close allies Turkey and Azerbaijan than their opposing stances on Israel:
“Good relations between the Azeris and Israelis caused considerable annoyance in Turkey, yet the government decided to (and was able to) contain it. Direct and sharp criticism was limited to the fringes of the ruling party and a few zealous columnists. ... Oddly, the two countries' differing approaches to Israel never resulted in such a pronounced confrontation as the hijab ban did. A seemingly much smaller issue has managed to ruffle more feathers between the two brotherly nations. But even if it has caused the nastiest spat between them in years, the damage is hardly likely to be irreparable.”