Baku: anonymous leaflets against hijab ban in schools

Authors of the leaflets, which are distributed anonymously at the entrances of apartment buildings in the capital of Azerbaijan, demand to abolish the practice of the ban on hijabs at schools, as it allegedly violates human rights.

In November 2010 the Ministry of Education of Azerbaijan introduced a ban for schoolgirls to attend schools with hijabs on their heads, because the Muslim headscarf is not a part of school uniform. Believers say that due to this ban their daughters will not be able to attend classes, and they evaluate these measures as a violation of human rights.

The leaflets appeared in Baku depict a crossed portrait of Misir Mardanov, the Minister of Education. The inscription under the portrait reads: "Everyone has the right to dress and get education appropriate to the faith, but this right is grossly violated."

Zamina Aligyzy, the head of the Public Relations Section of the Ministry of Education, said that the Ministry was not aware of these leaflets, the "SalamNews" reported.

Simultaneously with the beginning of the leaflets, a group of intellectuals and human rights activists of the Muslim countries appealed to the authorities of Azerbaijan concerning the ban on hijab at schools. Authors of the appeal expressed hope for the soonest cancellation of this standard, which was named to be 'discriminatory', the "IslamNyus" informed.