Users in Azerbaijan have reported difficulties accessing Instagram and TikTok, claiming the sites only work with VPNs: fuelling speculation that the authorities are restricting access amid protests against hijab restrictions in schools.
Users have reported that the platforms were inaccessible from Monday morning, with some complaining about slow connections, feeds failing to refresh, and videos not loading. While outage-monitoring services recorded complaints from Azerbaijan, they reported no global disruption affecting Instagram or TikTok. OC Media could not independently verify the reports.
Some social media users have speculated that the reported restrictions could be linked to the recent spread of videos concerning the hijab.
The Azerbaijani authorities have not officially commented on the reported outages, and neither have Instagram or TikTok.
The Interior Ministry’s Press Service told pro-government media outlet APA on 12 October that a group of people in Baku had ‘created confrontational situations’ with school staff over the introduction of a unified school dress code, damaged state educational institutions, and attempted to engage in actions that grossly violated public order and obstructed traffic and the normal functioning of educational institutions. The Ministry said it had arrested 37 people for disrupting public order.
School protests over hijab restrictions emerged in Azerbaijan following changes to school dress code rules. In September, the Cabinet of Ministers adopted amendments enforcing a ‘secular dress code’ for pupils and teachers. Although the rules do not explicitly mention the hijab, many reports and videos have surfaced online seemingly showing young girls being turned away from their schools — presumably because of their hijab.
Videos shared on social media also show students protesting outside schools and boycotting classes in solidarity with girls wearing hijabs who were reportedly denied entry.
Azerbaijan is constitutionally a secular state, and the authorities have traditionally justified school uniform requirements by referring to the secular nature of public education.
However, the application of these rules to religious headscarves has repeatedly caused controversy. In 2010–2012, similar restrictions triggered protests, some of which were dispersed by police and were followed by arrests.
Public demonstrations are rare in Azerbaijan, where authorities tightly restrict unsanctioned gatherings.