Turkey is seeking to defuse tensions with Azerbaijan after protests in Turkey over school rules that have reportedly prevented some girls wearing headscarves from attending classes. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev criticized what he described as outside interference in his country’s domestic affairs, while Turkish officials have indicated Ankara does not intend to escalate the dispute.
School policy sparks backlash
Azerbaijan announced in September that clothing considered inconsistent with secularism would not be permitted in schools. The government did not explicitly announce a headscarf ban, but reports that some schools were turning away headscarf-wearing students prompted criticism and a social media campaign.
Demonstrations followed in Turkey, where government-aligned commentators compared the situation with the restrictions imposed on headscarves in Turkey during the late 1990s. The historical comparison amplified the issue beyond a domestic school-policy debate.
Leaders signal a desire to cool the row
Aliyev’s remarks at a political gathering in Baku were interpreted by some as a rebuke to Turkey. Turkish officials have said the comments were directed at other European countries, and Ankara has presented the episode as a misunderstanding. They say Turkey will avoid a public response and pursue de-escalation.
The episode highlights the delicate balance between close ties and differing approaches to secularism and religious expression. For now, the governments appear to be trying to keep the disagreement from damaging their broader relationship. The key unresolved issue remains how the school rules are applied in practice and whether affected students can return to class.
