Azerbaijani political scientists questioned the justification for the hijab ban in schools.

The school administration in Azerbaijan still does not allow schoolgirls and teachers in hijabs to attend classes, which violates the right to education and the principle of secularism, noted political scientists. A lawyer allowed for a legal challenge to the restrictions, although he pointed out legal obstacles to such lawsuits.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", since October 12, schoolgirls and female teachers who refused to remove their hijabs have been barred from attending classes in Azerbaijani schools. In several schools, students and teachers held lessons outside, and participants in the protests were subjected to detentions. The restrictions followed changes made in September to the requirements for school uniforms, which prohibit clothing items that violate the unified standard of dress or do not correspond to the secular nature of education. On October 6, the government also approved requirements for teachers' clothing, obliging them to adhere to a business style that corresponds to the principle of secular education.

Children and teachers in hijabs are still not allowed to attend classes, said an activist defending the rights of believers. According to him, some schoolgirls continue to come to schools and study independently outside, while some parents have already stopped sending their children to classes.

"In some schools, children still come in hijabs, but they are not allowed to attend classes. Where circumstances permit, they open their textbooks outside and study independently. Some parents no longer send their children to schools," he told a correspondent from "Caucasian Knot".

Parents of children who have stopped attending school due to the restrictions are not yet being fined, but participants in the protests have faced harsher pressure, noted the activist.

"More pressure has been exerted on parents and believers who participated in the protests: there were detentions, administrative arrests, and there are even cases of arrests on criminal charges. However, administrative penalties and fines against parents whose children do not attend schools are not yet being applied. School leaders and teachers are trying to act through persuasion, sending authoritative teachers to families," said the activist.

School officials contacted Gulmira Aslanova, the wife of journalist Polad Aslanov, whose 13-year-old daughter was previously barred from attending classes due to her hijab.

"Teachers called me. They even wanted to send a teacher who taught my daughter in elementary school to our home, considering our good relationship. But we were not home that day – I was taking my daughter to a psychologist. She still has not recovered from the stress she experienced after being isolated at school and forced to remove her hijab. However, my daughter said that no one should come, as she does not intend to remove her hijab," Aslanova told a correspondent from "Caucasian Knot".

Allowing girls in hijabs to attend schools does not pose a threat to the secular nature of Azerbaijan, pointed out orientalist and political scientist Zardusht Alizade. In his assessment, religion does not have a decisive influence on the social and political life of the country.

"Although 95-96% of the population of Azerbaijan are Muslims, the prescriptions of Islam are fully observed and fulfilled by no more than 5-10% of the population. The remaining Muslims adhere to religious customs mainly within the framework of rituals – funerals, memorials, religious holidays, and also making sacrifices," he told a correspondent from "Caucasian Knot".

Alizade assessed the restrictions on wearing hijabs in schools as "another step in the policy of tightening control over society and demonstrating state power to suppress those who do not fit into its notions of loyalty".

The ban could lead to children from religious families being excluded from the education system, noted the political scientist.

"It's not just about violating human rights and freedom of religion. The negative consequences of the bans for the psychological state of children, which cause them stress, are also not taken into account. Leaving children without education is worse than the 'triumph of secularism'. Some will comply with the new requirements, but children from many religious families will prefer the hijab to school. Common sense suggests that children in hijabs should be allowed to study in schools, interact with peers, and broaden their horizons. Who knows, perhaps by the time they reach the age of university admission and continue their studies at universities, their views on religiosity will change. There should be no coercion in raising children. By remaining outside of school, they will be isolated from society and deprived of education," said Alizade.

The secular nature of education should be determined primarily by the content of the educational process, not by the clothing of students, noted member of the Azerbaijani National Public Committee for Eurointegration Togrul Juvarly.

In his opinion, education should be based on science, and the principle of secularism implies the absence of religious propaganda, rituals, and ceremonies in schools. The hijab itself is an article of clothing, and wearing it does not contradict the secular nature of education, noted the analyst.

The new requirements for students' clothing are insufficiently justified, considered lawyer Yalchin Imanov.

"Clothing relates to the concept of freedom of expression. The choice of clothing is one of the strongest forms of expressing a person's inner world," said the lawyer to a correspondent from "Caucasian Knot".

When establishing requirements for school uniforms, the state must maintain a balance between the right to education enshrined in the Constitution and freedom of conscience, noted Imanov.

"It's one thing when a parent does not send a child to school, forcing them to work and bring income to the family. It's quite another matter when a child does not attend school due to the infringement of their religious beliefs. The decision to impose a fine should be made by the court. At the same time, parents can refer to Article 1 of the law 'On Freedom of Religion', the last sentence of which states: 'Parents or persons replacing them, based on mutual consent, may raise their children according to their own religious beliefs and attitudes towards religion'", said Imanov.

According to Article 181.0.1 of the Administrative Offenses Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, individuals can be fined 100 manats (about $58.8) for depriving a person of the opportunity to receive education, noted the lawyer.

Parents also have the right to challenge the exclusion of their children from classes in court, but the prospects of such processes may be complicated by precedent decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), noted Imanov.

"Unfortunately, the prospects of such legal proceedings may be nullified by precedent decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). At one time, when the hijab was banned in state institutions in Turkey, the ECHR made a number of decisions that did not satisfy the corresponding complaints. The court proceeded from the principle of secularism, which in the interpretation of the ECHR judges implied the neutrality of the state in matters of politics, religion, and other areas," said Imanov.

The solution to the problem should be sought not only in the legal but also in the socio-political sphere, as the restrictions have already affected a significant number of people and sparked public discussion, noted the lawyer.

"This issue has affected quite a few people, sparked public discussion and international resonance. In such a situation, a solution may be found through reaching a certain compromise, public consensus. This is not the case where the state should demonstrate strength and inflexibility," said Imanov.