Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdolhamid criticized the Azerbaijani government\u2019s recent order banning the wearing of hijab and headscarves in the country\u2019s 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: \u201cIn 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\u2019s president has made it mandatory for female students and teachers to remove their headscarves, requiring them to enter classrooms without them.\u201d
Criticizing the decision, he said: \u201cThe 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\u2019s 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.\u201d
The Friday Prayer Leader of Zahedan added: \u201cDepriving 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Policy of Coercion Fails and Produces the Opposite Results People Do Not Accept Coercion; Reason, Wisdom, and Respect for Rights Must Guide Our Approach Killing Women Is Contrary to Local Traditions\/ the Dignity of Women Must Be Respected Regardless of Their Attire or Institutional Affiliation I Emphasize the Importance of Preserving Security in the Province Hijab Ban in Azerbaijani Schools Contradicts Democratic Principles\/ President of Azerbaijan Should Revoke His Order<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":13900,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15009","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-c81-speeches"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
<\/strong>Mawlana Abdolhamid further described the policy of coercion as a failure. He said: \u201cWherever restrictions or opposition have been imposed regarding women\u2019s clothing and hijab, this approach has failed. In the Republic of Azerbaijan, too, the government\u2019s 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.\u201d
He added: \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>The Friday Prayer Leader of Zahedan stated: \u201cWe 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\u2019s rights are what work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>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\u2019s culture, he said: \u201cUnfortunately, insecurity has increased in the province, and two women have also been killed in these incidents.\u201d
He added: \u201cIn 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\u2019s thieves have become so shameless that they even strip women of their gold and jewelry and take them away.\u201d
Emphasizing the need to respect women, he said: \u201cWhenever 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\u2019s dignity and honor, regardless of what they wear or which institution they are affiliated with.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Concluding his sermon, the Friday Prayer Leader of Zahedan said: \u201cMy advice and emphasis to everyone is to understand people\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"