Azerbaijan’s ruling party slams Turkish politicians over headscarf ban criticism

Azerbaijan’s ruling party, the New Azerbaijan Party, has accused Turkish politicians who criticized the headscarf bans of populism and irresponsibility.

• It is regrettable that Presidential Chief Advisor Oktay Saral and AK Party parliamentarians have made populist and irresponsible statements without taking into account Azerbaijan’s constitutional order and the legal foundations of religious freedom in the country.
• Azerbaijan is a secular state just like Turkey. It is unacceptable to make the country’s secular structure and education policy the subject of political manipulation.
• Using sensitive issues like the headscarf as tools for political manipulation and division serves neither Turkey’s social unity nor the solidarity of the Islamic world.
• We call on the relevant political circles in Turkey to act responsibly and to refrain from steps that could harm the brotherly relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey.