Summary

Take action against the hijab ban on Azerbaijani schoolgirls and teachers by writing to Muslim governments and asking them to put pressure on Azerbaijan.

 

Background

Azerbaijan has begun to enforce its headscarf ban in schools by preventing students and teachers who wear it from entering them. This is the same excuse that was used by Tajikistan when it banned the headscarf. Videos have been going viral of children being turned away from school for wearing their headscarf and teachers banned from attending schools for the same reason.

These bans are not just bans on the hijab,but are bans on the Muslim women who wear them and is a result of an ongoing campaign of Islamophobia and attempts at making practicing Muslims second class citizens.

There have been protests by students in many areas, including schools emptied of students, both those who wear the hijab and those in solidarity with them who refuse to go to such schools. This level of discrimination and demonisation affects everyone in society.

 

Action Required

Write to the Iraqi Prime Minister in his capacity as the current president of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (template letter below)

Write to foreign ministers of Muslim countries demanding they take a strong stance on the issue (template letter below)

Follow IHRC on our mailing list here or our WhatsApp community here

 

Template Letter

For Foreign Secretaries:

 

[Your name]

[Your address]

[Date]

 

[Name of Foreign secretary]

[Address of Foreign secretary]

 

Dear [Name of Foreign Secretary],

 

Re: Restrictions on Students and Teachers wearing the Headscarf from entering schools in Azerbaijan

 

As you no doubt would have heard, the Republic of Azerbaijan has enforced a ban on students and teachers who wear the hijab from being able to enter schools. This act of extreme discrimination against Muslim women is unacceptable wherever it takes place. However, for it to happen in a Muslim majority country is dangerous and sends a dangerous message to the rest of the world.

Many Azerbaijanis, both those who wear the scarf and those who do not, have been protesting against the ban, understanding the threat it represents for the basic human rights of all people. These protests have resulted in many arrests as the government cracks down on those who oppose attempts to make practicing Muslims second class citizens.

It is imperative that you do not accept or allow this injustice without taking any action to challenge the Azerbaijani regime. This affects Muslims all over the World, and Muslim majority countries should demand that they reverse this ban immediately before it has a chance to further encourage Islamophobia, discrimination and demonisation both in Muslim majority and minority countries.

 

Yours sincerely,

[Your signature if posting]

[Your name]

 

 

For Iraq’s Prime Minister; Al Zaidi:

 

[Your name]

[Your address]

[Date]

 

Prime Minister Ali Ali-Zaidi,

Republican Palace,

Baghdad 10011,

Baghdad,

8C35+MF,

Iraq

 

Dear Prime Minister,

 

Re: Restrictions on Students and Teachers wearing the Headscarf from entering schools in Azerbaijan

As you no doubt would have heard, the Republic of Azerbaijan has enforced a ban on students and teachers who wear the hijab from being able to enter schools. This act of extreme discrimination against Muslim women is unacceptable wherever it should take place, however, for it to happen in a Muslim majority country is dangerous and sets a message regarding Muslims across the World.

Many Azerbaijanis, both those who wear the scarf and those who do not, have been protesting against the ban, understanding the threat it represents for the basic human rights of all people. These protests have resulted in many arrests as the government cracks down on those who oppose attempts to make practicing Muslims second class citizens.

It is imperative that you do not accept or allow this injustice without taking any action to challenge the Azerbaijani regime. You should use your influence as president of the Organisation of Islamic Coorperation to demand that they reverse this ban immediately before it has a chance to further encourage Islamophobia, discrimination and demonisation both in Muslim majority and minority countries.

 

Yours sincerely,

[Your signature if posting]

[Your name]

 

Addresses

Prime minister of Iraq; Al Zaidi:

 

Prime Minister Ali Ali-Zaidi,

Republican Palace,

Baghdad 10011,

Baghdad,

8C35+MF,

Iraq

 

Alternatively, you can email him at pmo.ca@pmo.gov.iq

 

Foreign Ministers:

 

Malaysia

Mohamad bin Hasan,

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia
Wisma Putra Complex
No. 1, Jalan Wisma Putra
Precinct 2,
Federal Government Administrative Centre
62602 Putrajaya, MALAYSIA

 

Alternatively, you can email: pro.ukk@kln.gov.my

 

 

Indonesia

Arrmanatha Christiawan Nasir,

Jl. Taman Pejambon No. 6,

Jakarta Pusat 10110,

Indonesia

 

Alternatively, you can email: kontak-kami@kemlu.go.id

 

Turkiye

Hakan Fidan,

T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı,

Dr. Sadık Ahmet Caddesi No: 8, 06100 Balgat –

Ankara

Türkiye

 

Pakistan

Mohammad Ishaq Dar,

P493+996, Constitution Ave,

G-5/1 G-5, Islamabad Constitution, G-5,

Islamabad, 44000,

Pakistan

 

Alternatively, you can email: diradmn.fsa@mofa.gov.pk

 

Egypt

Badr Ahmed Mohamed Abdelatty,

Maspero,

Corniche El-Nil Street,

Bulaq,

Cairo,

Egypt

 

Bangladesh

Dr. Khalilur Rahman

Segunbagicha,

Dhaka 1000,

Bangladesh

 

Alternatively you can email: csat@mofa.gov.bd

 

Iran

Abbas Araghchi

Imam Khomeini St,

Imam Khomeini Sq,

Tehran ,

Iran

Alteratively, you can email: info@mfa.gov.ir

 

Nigeria

Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu,

No. 1 Federal Secretariat / Central Business District,

Abuja 900103,

Federal Capital Territory,

Nigeria

 

Alternatively, you can email: ohmfa@foreignaffairs.gov.ng