Azerbaijani media have reported that more than 200 people were detained near the 28 May metro station in central Baku on the evening of 12 October, during protests against restrictions on wearing hijabs in schools. The reported number of detainees has not been officially confirmed.
According to Azerbaijani media reports, police detained a group of people who had gathered near the 28 May metro station to protest new school dress code rules that have raised concerns among religious citizens.
According to reports, the incident occurred during an attempted protest against the decision to introduce a standard school uniform. Police officers on duty in the area detained a group of people who reportedly intended to protest restrictions on wearing hijabs in educational institutions.
The number of detainees reportedly exceeded 200, and criminal proceedings were allegedly initiated against more than 100 people. Unikal.az published similar information. However, these figures have not been independently verified.
Videos allegedly related to the incident have also circulated on social media. However, it has not been possible to independently establish exactly when and under what circumstances the footage was recorded.
Earlier, on 12 October, the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that 37 people had been arrested in connection with protests against hijab restrictions. The ministry’s statement alleged that the individuals had created confrontational situations with staff at educational institutions, disrupted school activities and disturbed public order.
Criminal proceedings were initiated under Article 233 of the Criminal Code, which concerns organising or actively participating in actions that grossly violate public order.
However, the ministry’s announcement regarding the arrest of 37 people was published during the day on 12 October, while reports of mass detentions near the 28 May metro station emerged in the evening. It remains unclear whether the two incidents are connected and whether those arrested earlier were among the more than 200 people reportedly detained.
What prompted the protests?
On 21 September, the Cabinet of Ministers amended the regulations governing school clothing. Under the new requirements, the use of clothing elements that alter the appearance of the standard school uniform or are inconsistent with the principle of secular education is prohibited in public general education institutions.
On 6 October, requirements concerning teachers’ clothing in public general education institutions were also approved.
Although the decisions do not explicitly mention the hijab, the new rules have caused discontent among some religious citizens. Reports have circulated on social media that hijab-wearing students have been denied access to classes and that teachers have been instructed to comply with the new dress code.
Some parents say school administrations are demanding that girls wearing hijabs remove their headscarves and are refusing to allow them to attend classes otherwise.
On 9 October, the Baku City Education Department announced that it would strengthen oversight of compliance with student and teacher dress codes in schools. However, the department did not comment on complaints that hijab-wearing students were being denied access to classes.
Prisoners also protest hijab restrictions
Protests against the new dress code have also taken place in penitentiary facilities.
On 8 October, journalist Polad Aslanov, who is being held at Penitentiary Institution No. 15, began a hunger strike in protest against hijab restrictions. His wife, Gülmirə Aslanova, reported the development.
Religious cleric Zeynal Bayramov, who is being held at Penitentiary Institution No. 15, a high-security facility, also announced that he had begun a hunger strike on 12 October in protest against the hijab ban and had stopped taking his medication.
On 12 October, 19 prisoners held at Penitentiary Institution No. 17 issued a statement. They demanded that the restrictions on wearing the hijab be lifted and said they would begin a hunger strike if their demands were not met.
“Otherwise, we will stage a hunger strike and fight at the cost of our lives and blood until our protests and demands are addressed,” the statement said.
The prisoners who signed the statement believe that the restrictions on wearing the hijab interfere with freedom of religion and the right to education. It remains unclear whether they have begun the announced hunger strike.
As of 13 October, the exact number of people detained near the 28 May metro station on the evening of 12 October, how many of them had been released and who had been formally charged had not been confirmed.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs has not issued a separate statement regarding reports that more than 200 people were detained.
