Erdogan dismisses senior advisor to mend ties with Azerbaijan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has dismissed Oktay Saral, a senior presidential advisor, in an effort to repair diplomatic relations with Azerbaijan. The move follows a dispute triggered by Azerbaijan's recent decision to ban headscarves in primary and secondary schools, which sparked protests and criticism within Turkey.

Saral had publicly criticized the Azerbaijani decision on social media, drawing sharp condemnation from Azerbaijan's New Azerbaijan Party. Reports indicate that Baku had requested the dismissal of Saral as a condition for stabilizing relations.

This diplomatic maneuvering aims to ensure Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev attends the upcoming Organization of Turkic States summit in Turkey. Turkish officials had expressed concerns that Aliyev might boycott the event due to the domestic backlash regarding the headscarf ban.