Conflicts between believers and the police happened in Baku

Today an action of protest of about 200 believers in Baku against prohibition of wearing hijabs at schools developed into conflicts between the participants and the police personnel. The exact number of people injured as a result of the conflict is yet unknown.

Earlier, the "Caucasian Knot" reported that at the end of November, 2010, the Ministry of Education of Azerbaijan prohibited the schoolgirls wearing hijabs at school because the Moslem hijab was not part of school uniform. The believers estimate this measure as violation of human rights.

The believers gathered in front of the Ministry of Education about midday demanding to call off prohibition of wearing hijabs at school.

They chanted slogans: "Freedom to hijab!", "Freedom to Islam!", "Damn the Zionists!" etc.

However, the police forces numbering about 150 people who arrived rapidly started dispersal of the protesters. In reply they threw stones and sticks at the policemen. About 50 persons were detained during the collision. There are injured people on both parties, their number is unknown yet, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

Deputy Head of Chief Police Directorate of Baku Sakhlab Bagirov was among those injured. The police are going on driving small groups of believers who return to the scene of the action back from the building of the Ministry of Education.