Diyarbakır protesters condemn hijab restrictions in Azerbaijan

Islamic civil society organizations in Diyarbakır, Turkey, held a press conference in front of the Ulu Mosque to protest reports of hijab restrictions in Azerbaijan. The protesters expressed concern over reports that female students in Azerbaijan are being denied entry to primary and secondary schools due to school uniform regulations and secularism policies.

Fatih Taş, President of the Ideal Education Foundation, read the statement on behalf of the organizations, asserting that the right to education and freedom of belief are fundamental rights protected by international law, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. He argued that depriving students of education based on religious attire contradicts the principles of justice.

The demonstration was attended by Yeniden Refah Party Chairman Fatih Erbakan, along with various political leaders and civil society representatives. During the statement, Taş compared the current situation in Azerbaijan to the historical experiences of religious restrictions in Turkey, specifically referencing the February 28 process. He also rejected claims that these protests constitute interference in Azerbaijan's internal affairs, characterizing the stance as a humanitarian responsibility to defend human rights.