Azerbaijan is facing growing criticism over restrictions on hijab-wearing pupils, as protests at home and abroad coincide with a diplomatic dispute between the Turkish Embassy in Baku and Azerbaijani media over coverage of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s recent visit. Amnesty International has also called on Baku to reverse its hijab restrictions.
Amnesty International has called on Azerbaijani authorities to reverse the restrictions, warning that denying girls access to education because of their religious clothing violates fundamental rights. Meanwhile, Turkey’s embassy has rejected media allegations concerning Fidan’s meetings in Azerbaijan, describing them as unfounded.
The developments come ahead of the 29–30 October summit of the Organisation of Turkic States in Ankara, where Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s attendance and the two countries’ public messaging may draw attention amid renewed debate over religious freedom and bilateral relations.
Demonstrations have been held outside Azerbaijani diplomatic missions in London, Berlin, and Ankara, with protesters denouncing the restrictions and chanting slogans against the Azerbaijani government.
The protests follow reports that pupils and teachers wearing hijabs have been denied entry to educational institutions under new school uniform regulations. The restrictions have sparked public discontent and drawn criticism from international human rights organisations.
OC MediaRafig Shahbazov
Amnesty International condemns hijab restrictions
On Friday, Amnesty International called on Azerbaijani authorities to reverse the restrictions, arguing that denying girls access to education because they wear a hijab constitutes discrimination and violates their rights to education, freedom of religion, and freedom of expression.
Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said that the secular nature of public education did not justify a blanket ban on religious clothing.
The organisation also expressed concern over the reported mass detention of people protesting the restrictions and called for the immediate and unconditional release of those detained solely for peacefully exercising their rights.
According to Amnesty International, the new regulations came into force on 12 October. Azerbaijan’s Interior Ministry reported that 37 people had been detained in Baku on that day, while activists reported a considerably higher number of detentions nationwide.
The restrictions have intensified debate over the relationship between Azerbaijan’s secular education system and the right of individuals to express their religious beliefs.
OC MediaRafig Shahbazov
Turkish Embassy rejects allegations against Hakan Fidan
Separately, a dispute has emerged between Turkey’s diplomatic mission in Baku and Azerbaijani media outlets following Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s recent visit to Azerbaijan.
An article published but later deleted by the government-aligned outlet Qafqazinfo, alleged that Fidan had held a meeting with members of the Youth Assistance Fund during his visit. The article was subsequently discussed by other Azerbaijani media, including Real TV,
The publication raised questions about the nature of the meeting and alleged that the organisation had links to Turkey’s National Intelligence Organisation. It also revisited allegations surrounding an attempted coup in Azerbaijan in 1995, which the article claimed was backed by Turkey.
The claims have not been independently established.
The Turkish Embassy in Baku rejected the allegations on Saturday, describing the report as based on unfounded accusations and accusing unnamed circles of attempting to damage relations between the two countries through disinformation.
The embassy also said that Fidan had posed for courtesy photographs with various people during his visit, including members of a legally registered organisation in Azerbaijan. It urged the public in both countries not to give credence to what it described as manipulative claims.
The diplomatic response has drawn attention to the sensitivity surrounding relations between the two countries, which have long maintained close political, economic, and security ties.
The controversy also comes at a time when Azerbaijan is facing international criticism over its treatment of protesters and restrictions on religious expression in schools.
OC MediaNate Ostiller
Erdoğan’s message and the upcoming Turkic states summit
On Sunday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan published a message on social media marking Azerbaijan’s Restoration of Independence Day. The gesture was welcomed by some observers amid the growing public controversy surrounding the two countries.
Others have suggested that the significance of the message, and the broader state of bilateral relations, will become clearer following the upcoming summit of the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS).
Turkey is scheduled to host the organisation’s 13th Summit of Heads of State and Government in Ankara on 29–30 October 2026. The meeting is expected to bring together leaders of member states, including Aliyev.
Whether Aliyev attends the summit, and the nature of any public statements or bilateral meetings held during the event, may offer an indication of how Baku and Ankara intend to navigate the current tensions.
However, neither the diplomatic dispute over Fidan’s visit nor the controversy surrounding the hijab restrictions, by itself, establishes a broader deterioration in relations between the two governments.
For now, the developments have placed two sensitive issues — religious freedom within Azerbaijan and the traditionally close relationship between Azerbaijan and Turkey — at the centre of renewed public debate.