Azernews.Az

An Azerbaijani group has come out against the new draft law On Education that bans female students' wearing veils.
The Center for Religious Faith and Protection of Freedom of Conscience (DEVAMM), which is known for its tough stance on religion-related issues, issued a relevant statement on Tuesday.
The head of the center, Ilgar Ibrahimoglu, said adoption of the law in the current state would have adverse ramifications. He said that if veils are banned in schools, thousands of women will be deprived of the fundamental right to receive education and to have appearance in accord with their religious beliefs.
"The new provision forbidding veils is a violation of human rights that runs counter to the principles of protecting religious freedoms embedded in the Azerbaijani Constitution as well as international legal documents signed by Azerbaijan," Ibrahimoglu said.
The new education law stipulates that students, faculty members and employees of all local educational institutions are not allowed to wear head-dress or any religious attire. So far they have been at liberty to do so.
Ibrahimoglu maintained that should the law pass, this would indicate the parliament's disrespect for the national and moral values of citizens and bring about severe deterioration of the country's human rights record.
DEVAMM forwarded an appeal to the president and the legislature requesting to withdraw the mentioned provision from the law and to honor the rights of pious people. It also called on the public and civil society at large to strive for the accomplishment of this goal.
Rights defender Saida Gojamanly argued that the ban was a violation of believers' rights, saying the latest changes posed a serious threat.
"If veils are banned by the law, stand-off may emerge in the country," she said. "Devout people may leave Azerbaijan. So far people facing political persecution tended to leave the country. If our citizens ask other countries for asylum due to the violation of their religious rights, Azerbaijan will be disgraced the world over."
The rights champion emphasized that head-dress is not forbidden in the educational institutions of developed countries, and Azerbaijan should avail of that experience.
Gunduz Ismayilov, a department head at the State Committee on Work with Religious Associations, said that every citizen reserves the right to live and dress in accord with the creed they profess, but the dress code in schools should be in line with the national legislation. "A decision is in force in Azerbaijan that requires wearing a single uniform in schools, and everyone must comply. It is therefore wrong to add the coloring of a religious problem to the issue of wearing veils and to interpret this as a violation of people's freedom of conscience," Ismayilov said.
The current law On Education was passed in 1992. The new draft law is to be tabled during the last sitting of the parliament's fall session on Friday.