Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdolhamid criticized the Azerbaijani government’s recent order banning the wearing of hijab and headscarves in the country’s schools during his Friday prayer sermon in Zahedan on October 16, 2026. Describing the measure as contrary to democratic principles, he called for the order to be revoked and revised.
Mawlana Abdolhamid said in a part of his sermon: “In the Republic of Azerbaijan, where more than 94 percent of the population is Muslim, many Muslim women wear hijab and headscarves, while some women choose not to wear them. There was freedom in the country, and the decision to wear hijab or not was left to women themselves. However, a recent order issued by the country’s president has made it mandatory for female students and teachers to remove their headscarves, requiring them to enter classrooms without them.”
Criticizing the decision, he said: “The implementation of this order has also triggered protests in the Republic of Azerbaijan. Even if the ban on hijab does not violate Azerbaijani law, the majority of the country’s population is Muslim. And even if Muslims were in the minority, no government would have the right to issue an order that deprives people of their freedom.”
The Friday Prayer Leader of Zahedan added: “Depriving people of their freedom is contrary to the principles of democracy. Although democracy does not exist in many of these countries, their governments claim to be democratic merely to gain popularity in the world. Therefore, it would be better for Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to respect the feelings of his people, withdraw his order, and revise it. This would be in the best interests of both the Azerbaijani government and the country.”
The Policy of Coercion Fails and Produces the Opposite Results
Mawlana Abdolhamid further described the policy of coercion as a failure. He said: “Wherever restrictions or opposition have been imposed regarding women’s clothing and hijab, this approach has failed. In the Republic of Azerbaijan, too, the government’s recent order has produced the opposite effect. Many women, female students, and teachers who did not previously wear headscarves have started wearing them in protest against the order.”
He added: “We have experienced the same in our own country, where the majority of the population is Muslim. When hijab was made compulsory and women who did not observe it were subjected to harsh and humiliating treatment, the results were the opposite of what was intended. Our country suffered because of this approach and policy.”
People Do Not Accept Coercion; Reason, Wisdom, and Respect for Rights Must Guide Our Approach
The Friday Prayer Leader of Zahedan stated: “We have repeatedly emphasized from this pulpit that the best solution is to act with prudence and wisdom, give women due consideration, and listen to the concerns of both women and men who express their dissatisfaction. We should not resort to coercion, because people do not accept forceful demands from anyone, whether a ruler, judge, religious scholar, community elder, or anyone else. People will not submit to pressure and coercion. Rather, reason, logic, prudence, wisdom, respect, and the protection of people’s rights are what work.”
Killing Women Is Contrary to Local Traditions/ the Dignity of Women Must Be Respected Regardless of Their Attire or Institutional Affiliation
In another part of his Friday prayer sermon in Zahedan, Mawlana Abdolhamid expressed concern over the growing insecurity in Sistan and Baluchestan Province. Describing the killing of two women in recent incidents as contrary to the region’s culture, he said: “Unfortunately, insecurity has increased in the province, and two women have also been killed in these incidents.”
He added: “In the past, a tradition prevailed in this region whereby if someone encountered the murderer of his father and intended to take revenge, he would abandon his decision out of respect for a woman accompanying the murderer. Similarly, highway robbers would refrain from looting a caravan if they saw a woman traveling with it. Unfortunately, today’s thieves have become so shameless that they even strip women of their gold and jewelry and take them away.”
Emphasizing the need to respect women, he said: “Whenever we see a woman, she should remind us of our mother, sister, and daughter. Women are a compassionate and caring part of society. I have repeatedly advised the judicial authorities not to execute women, not to imprison female political activists, and instead to release them. Therefore, we urge everyone to safeguard women’s dignity and honor, regardless of what they wear or which institution they are affiliated with.”
I Emphasize the Importance of Preserving Security in the Province
Concluding his sermon, the Friday Prayer Leader of Zahedan said: “My advice and emphasis to everyone is to understand people’s sensitivities and work to preserve security. The sensitivities of no ethnic group or community should be provoked. Maintaining security serves the interests and well-being of everyone.”