Headscarf restriction in Azerbaijan extends to private schools

Azerbaijan’s school dress-code restrictions have extended beyond state schools to some private schools in Baku, where families of headscarf-wearing students were reportedly given 20 days to have the students remove their headscarves. The move follows earlier restrictions in state schools and signals a widening application of the policy in the capital. It matters because it brings a long-running debate over religious attire in education into the private-school sector, affecting families who may have expected more flexibility. What to watch next is whether other private schools adopt similar deadlines and whether the 20-day notices prompt pushback or policy clarification from education authorities.