Following congregational prayers, demonstrators held signs emphasizing that the hijab is a symbol of women's dignity, not shame, and calling for respect for the rights of the Muslim community.

The protest reflects growing concerns among Muslims over restrictions on wearing the hijab in educational institutions and their impact on women's and girls' access to education and religious freedom.

Protests erupted in the Republic of Azerbaijan last month after restrictions regarding the hijab in schools were imposed on October 12.  

The origin of these restrictions lies in amendments made to the Law on General Education in July 2026, followed by resolutions issued by the Cabinet of Ministers on September 21 and October 6 of this year.

Although the term hijab is not explicitly mentioned in the text of these resolutions, they prohibit any form of attire deemed "inconsistent with the uniformity of school uniforms or the principle of secularism in public education."

In practice, these regulations have resulted in the exclusion of students and teachers who wear the hijab from school premises. The circulation of videos showing veiled girls being denied entry to their schools sparked a wave of protests in Baku and cities in the southern part of the country.

Read More:

The government of Azerbaijan defends this decision by citing the country’s constitution, which defines the educational system as secular. Critics, however—including Amnesty International—view the move as discriminatory and a violation of the right to education and religious freedom for Muslim girls.

Source: karbala-intel.net