Azerbaijan school hijab ban sparks protests, strains Turkey ties

Azerbaijan's strict enforcement of secular dress codes in schools, banning head coverings, has triggered student expulsions, protests, arrests, and internet restrictions. Turkey, a close ally, publicly criticized the ban, prompting a sharp rebuke from Baku, escalating a rare diplomatic rift. The dispute introduces a new religious-freedom dimension to the Azerbaijan-Turkey relationship, traditionally anchored in shared Turkic and strategic interests.