Hijab-wearing Girls Banned from School in Azerbaijan

Rasa - The Azerbaijan Republic’s minster of education said girls who wear Hijab will not be allowed into high schools.

News ID: 392

Date: 04 September 2013 - 16:36

Rasa News Agency Reports – He said that from the beginning of this year’s school year, high school students will have to wear special uniforms and that girls should refuse to wear Hijab.

The minister added that the uniforms for students are designed based on the regulations of schools. Last year, a ban on wearing Hijab in high schools drew widespread criticisms and protests in the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Those opposed to the ban held a demonstration in front of the education ministry in Baku last year. Around 98 percent of the population of Azerbaijan is Muslim and a ban on the Islamic dress code is not mentioned in the country's constitution.

Muslim communities in Azerbaijan blame the growing secularism in the country on Tel Aviv and accuse Israel of being behind the anti-Islamic programs.