The International Union of Muslim Scholars has called on Azerbaijan’s president to guarantee religious freedom for Muslim students, expressing concern over reports that girls wearing the Islamic hijab have been barred from entering schools.

In a statement issued in Doha on October 13, the Union urged the Azerbaijani authorities to protect the religious rights of Muslim girls and ensure that their access to education is not restricted because of their religious beliefs or attire.

The Union warned that preventing students from attending school because they wear the hijab raises serious questions about religious freedom, women’s rights and the limits of secularism when it is used to restrict the public expression of faith.

“If a girl is deprived of her right to education merely for adhering to her hijab, then where is women’s freedom? Where is freedom of belief?” the statement asked, challenging what it described as the selective application of women’s rights and equality.

The Union stressed that the right to education must not depend on a student’s religious identity or the political orientation of the authorities. It also questioned the rationale behind hijab restrictions, asking whether the Islamic headscarf posed any obstacle to acquiring knowledge.

The statement called on feminist and human rights organizations to take a consistent position on the issue, asking whether their priority was safeguarding girls’ right to education or whether their response depended on the identity of the authorities imposing the restrictions.

The Union also warned that restricting religious expression in the name of secularism could undermine social stability and hinder progress. It argued that religious freedom and respect for Islamic identity should be recognized as essential rights rather than treated as obstacles to development.

Expressing solidarity with Azerbaijan’s Muslim population, the Union said Muslim scholars had rejoiced at the country’s military victory and prayed for its success from mosque pulpits. It said reports of restrictions on veiled schoolgirls had therefore caused concern among Muslims around the world.

The Union appealed directly to Azerbaijan’s president to safeguard the religious freedom of Muslim female students and preserve the Islamic identity of the country’s people.

The Union’s appeal comes amid concerns over reported restrictions on the hijab in Azerbaijan. The specific circumstances and scope of the reported school restrictions were not detailed in the statement. (ILKHA)