Azernews.Az

BAKU – Azerbaijan’s clerical leader has said opponents of the government’s banning veils in schools by introducing a standard school uniform are trying to "baselessly politicize" the issue.

"Certain forces are keen on casting the school uniform issue into the political realm," Caucasus Muslims Office chairman, Sheikh Allahshukur Pashazada said in a meeting with French Ambassador Gabriel Keller on Tuesday.

There is no explicit ban on the wearing of headscarves in schools, but the Education Ministry last year introduced a standard school uniform that precludes traditional Islamic dress. Several protests have been held against the measure.

"Certainly, a hijab [veil] is one of the canons of our religion, and I would not agree with its ban. But the point is that it wasn’t a ban like that, it is all about introducing a standard school uniform. Such a uniform is used in a number of world countries, and it is applied here as well, and veils definitely could have been supplemented to it."

Pashazada said further that those interested in the emergence of tension in Azerbaijan "have begun to worsen the situation", adding that the opposition, which enjoys no popular support, is seeking to take advantage of the tension to secure the support of believers.

Pashazada reiterated that no formal ban on the wearing of headscarves has been imposed in the country and President Ilham Aliyev "has always paid attention to the needs of believers".