Azerbaijan students stage protests over new hijab dress code policy

School pupils in Azerbaijan have taken to the streets in response to strict dress code regulations that limit hijab usage in educational institutions. The new policy, which has been rolled out across multiple schools, prohibits or significantly restricts students from wearing Islamic headscarves during school hours.

The student-led demonstrations highlight concerns about religious freedom and personal expression in Azerbaijan's predominantly Muslim but constitutionally secular state. Participants have called for a reconsideration of the regulations, arguing they infringe on students' rights to practice their faith freely.

Azerbaijan has maintained a secular governance framework since independence, with the state promoting a moderate approach to religious observance in public institutions. Education officials have characterized the dress code restrictions as part of broader policies aimed at maintaining secular standards in schools, though critics contend the measures disproportionately affect Muslim students.

The protests underscore ongoing debates within Azerbaijani society regarding the balance between secular governance and religious accommodation. Education authorities have not yet announced any plans to modify the policies in response to student activism. Similar discussions about religious expression in schools have emerged periodically across the South Caucasus region.