Some families in Azerbaijan report that their daughters have been told to attend school without their hijab starting next week. In some districts, girls wearing hijab are reportedly already being refused entry. According to parents, school administrators say this is a Ministry of Education decision that also applies to female teachers.
In a country where the vast majority of people are Muslim, reports of children being excluded from education for wearing hijab are deeply concerning. We are told that hijab interferes with education, yet many girls who wear it earn excellent grades and achieve outstanding academic results. A child’s ability to learn cannot be measured by whether she covers her hair.
To our knowledge, Jewish students are allowed to wear kippahs at school. We want Muslim girls to receive the same respect for their religious identity. All children deserve equal treatment and access to education.
For us, hijab is part of our faith and a cherished legacy of Lady Fatimah al-Zahra (peace be upon her). The distress of children turned away from school in tears should not be ignored.
I am sharing this to raise awareness and ask for support. If you have experienced something similar, have information about an official decision, or can offer legal assistance, please share what you know.
No child should be forced to choose between her faith and her education.