Azerbaijan Accuses Turkey of Artificial Tensions Amid Hijab Ban and Israel Ties

Tensions Rise Between Azerbaijan and Turkey Over Hijab Ban and Israel Ties

Tensions between historic allies have escalated significantly as Azerbaijan's ruling party, led by President Ilham Aliyev, accused Turkey of instigating "artificial tensions" between the two nations. This comes amid growing outrage in Ankara over a hijab ban implemented in Azerbaijani schools, alongside sharp public criticism in Turkey regarding Baku's close relations with Israel.

The Azerbaijani backlash was directed primarily at Oktay Saral, a senior adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and other officials from Turkey's ruling AKP party. Saral had criticized the ban on female students wearing headscarfs as unacceptable, calling on Baku to reverse the policy after videos of weeping students outside schools went viral on Turkish social media. New dress codes in Azerbaijan took effect for students in late September and teachers in early October, sparking protests that led to authorities arresting at least 37 people and disrupting access to online platforms.

Sovereignty Dispute and Bilateral Friction

According to a report by Middle East Eye, the Azerbaijani ruling party stated that media outlets close to the Ankara government are publishing false reports, warning against damaging bilateral relations. The official statement emphasized that Azerbaijan is a secular state under its constitution, declaring that "no country in the Islamic world has the right to dictate its will to other Muslim peoples, interfere in their internal affairs, or consider itself superior," in a thinly veiled jab at Erdogan's regional ambitions.

In addition to the hijab controversy, sharp criticism was voiced in Turkey over Azerbaijan's close ties with Israel, specifically regarding Baku's delegation remaining in the UN General Assembly hall during the speech delivered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month. In response, Baku clarified that its relations with Israel are based on international law and mutual interests, while reiterating its continued support for the establishment of a Palestinian state and a two-state solution.

Re-evaluating the 'One Nation, Two States' Doctrine

The statement also addressed the famous slogan coined by former Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev, "One nation, two states," firmly asserting that the principle does not erase sovereignty. It noted that while they are one nation, they remain two independent states, providing no justification for meddling in internal affairs or imposing ideological approaches. While Turkish officials attempted to calm the waters by claiming the dispute was merely a misunderstanding, Baku made it clear that it will not accept tutelage from its neighbor.