Protests Erupt in Azerbaijan Over School Hijab Ban

Protests have erupted across Azerbaijan, including in the capital Baku, after the government implemented a new uniform code for state schools that effectively bans the hijab. The regulation, passed on September 21, applies to both students and teachers, forbidding any attire that conflicts with secular principles. Despite Azerbaijan's population being 96% Muslim, the new rule has sparked widespread demonstrations, with parents and students gathering outside schools to demand the right to wear the headscarf. The Interior Ministry reports that 37 people have been arrested in connection with the protests. An activist, Ilkin Huseynov, who organized an online platform for students barred from school over the hijab, has gone missing; his friends say he was last seen on October 14 being taken from his home by unknown individuals, and his phone has been switched off since. Another protester, Shahiza Huseynova, a mother of a student, said authorities gave her an ultimatum: either send her daughter to school without the hijab or face jail. Critics say the ban infringes on religious freedom, while the government argues that children should not be influenced by adult religious choices.