Erdogan visits Azerbaijan to bridge policy divide on Islamic dress

Erdogan's visit to Baku represents a diplomatic effort to smooth relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan, two countries with deep historical and cultural ties that have recently diverged on matters of religious expression in schools.

The tension centres on Azerbaijan's decision to prohibit Islamic headscarves in classrooms, a policy that contrasts sharply with Turkey's approach under Erdogan's government, which has progressively relaxed restrictions on hijabs in educational institutions. The differing stances reflect broader questions about the role of religious symbols in secular public spaces across the Muslim-majority nations.

Azerbaijan, a secular former Soviet republic, has maintained strict separation between religious expression and state institutions, viewing hijab bans in schools as consistent with its constitutional framework. Turkish authorities, by contrast, have increasingly accommodated Islamic dress in public education as part of wider religious freedoms policies implemented over the past two decades.

The presidential visit signals both nations' commitment to preserving their strategic partnership despite policy disagreements. Turkey and Azerbaijan maintain close military, economic and cultural ties, particularly following their joint support during Azerbaijan's 2020 conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Diplomats characterise the visit as an opportunity for dialogue on shared interests while managing differences in domestic governance approaches.