The issue of hijabs remains a stumbling block in Azerbaijani-Turkish relations

ArmInfo. The issue of wearing hijabs in Azerbaijani schools continues to be a stumbling block in Azerbaijani-Turkish relations.

For example, Oktay Saral, chief adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who criticized the Azerbaijani leadership for passing a law restricting the wearing of hijabs in schools, has been dismissed. The Cumhuriyet newspaper reported this.

According to Turkish opposition media, the dismissal was initiated by the administration of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who allegedly demanded that Ankara remove the official.

Oktay Saral himself only confirmed that his resignation was related specifically to the Azerbaijani issue, but did not comment on reports that his dismissal was at the direct request of Baku.

Earlier, Turkish media reported on the possible resignation of Saral, who on October 13 called the ban on wearing the hijab in Azerbaijani schools unacceptable and called for its repeal. The ruling New Azerbaijan Party accused several Turkish politicians of interfering in the republic's internal affairs in response to the Turkish official's statement. Moreover, on October 21, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry declared 31 Turkish citizens, including politicians, journalists, and bloggers, undesirable persons and banned them from entering the country.

But the criticism of Turkish politicians did not stop there. Ömer Faruk Gergerlioglu, a member of the Turkish parliament from the ruling AKP party, stated that the Aliyev regime in Azerbaijan continues its repressive ban on wearing hijabs.

"Protesters against the ban are being detained. Those reporting this repression are being silenced with threats of torture. With the detention of another 88 people in the village of Nardaran for protesting the hijab ban, the total number of detentions nationwide has exceeded 500. The whereabouts of these people, who were detained by police during the raid, is a serious concern. Just as I oppose injustice against Turkish society, I will continue to oppose the injustice and oppression of the Azerbaijani people. Human rights know no nationality, religion, or country. The Aliyev regime must abandon these totalitarian practices and all forms of oppression that violate human rights. The Azerbaijani people deserve freedom, justice, and a government worthy of human dignity," the Turkish MP stated.

It is also noteworthy that the pro-government newspaper Yeni Safak assessed the conflict as a threat to the coherence of the "Turkic world" and warned that Azerbaijan should not become a "new Ukraine" amid a possible Turkish-Israeli confrontation.