من مدارس أذربيجان إلى النجف.. مبادرة لاستكمال تعليم الطالبات المحجبات ومواقف تتصاعد دفاعًا عن حقهن

جامعة الزهراء للبنات تتضامن مع طالبات أذربيجان

وفي محافظة كربلاء نظّمت جامعة الزهراء (عليها السلام) للبنات اليوم السبت 16 أكتوبر /تشرين الاول 2026 وقفة تضامنية مع الطالبات المسلمات في أذربيجان، رفضاً للقيود المفروضة على ارتداء الحجاب في المؤسسات التعليمية، وتأكيداً على حق الفتيات في مواصلة تعليمهن مع الحفاظ على هويتهن الدينية والثقافية.

وشهدت الوقفة التي أُقيمت في مبنى الجامعة، مشاركة الملاكات الإدارية والتدريسية وعدد من الطالبات، فيما أكدت رئيسة الجامعة، الأستاذة الدكتورة زينب الملا السلطاني، في كلمة لها، أهمية احترام حرية المعتقد وممارسة الشعائر الدينية، ورفض الإجراءات التي تحدّ من حق الطالبات في ارتداء الحجاب.

وشددت الملا السلطاني على ضرورة صون الحقوق الدينية والثقافية للمرأة المسلمة، وضمان حقها في التعليم دون المساس بقناعاتها وهويتها، في موقف تضامني يعكس رفض حرمان الطالبات من فرصهن التعليمية بسبب مظهرهن الديني.

From Azerbaijan’s Schools to Najaf: An Initiative to Help Hijab-Wearing Students Continue Their Education Amid Growing Calls to Defend Their Rights

A student holds back tears as she speaks about her fear of losing her place at school. She painfully considers the possibility that returning to the classroom may depend on giving up the hijab she wears. As she tries to express her feelings, the words seem too heavy to bear. For her, the issue is not simply a piece of cloth or a school uniform, but a dream she fears may be interrupted, an educational right she does not want to lose, and a future she hopes to build through knowledge and learning.

Behind this human story lies an issue that raises painful questions about the relationship between religious beliefs and the right to education, as well as the price girls may pay when restrictions on their appearance become barriers to continuing their studies. For these students, school is not merely a place to attend lessons and sit exams; it is a space to develop their personalities, acquire knowledge, pursue their ambitions, and work toward a more secure future.

In Azerbaijan, restrictions on wearing the hijab in some public schools have brought this issue back into the spotlight. Media reports and circulating footage have described difficulties faced by female students and teachers in accessing schools because of the hijab, prompting reactions and questions about freedom of religion and guarantees for continued education.

Amid students’ fears of being forced to leave school and growing calls to protect their rights, the issue has moved beyond a debate over school uniforms to raise a more urgent question: How can girls’ right to continue their education be guaranteed without differences in religious beliefs or appearance becoming obstacles to their dreams?

International Protests in Defense of the Right to Education

London witnessed a sit-in outside the Azerbaijani Embassy in the Holland Park area on Friday evening, October 16, 2026. Dozens of activists and supporters took part in the protest against restrictions on wearing the hijab in Azerbaijani educational institutions and in solidarity with Muslim female students and teachers affected by these measures.

The sit-in followed a call by the Alliance of Students for Palestine (ASAP) and its partners under the slogan “Hands Off My Hijab.” Participants held signs demanding respect for freedom of religion and the right of female students to continue their education without discrimination based on their religious dress.

The organizers announced their intention to continue holding the sit-in outside the embassy every Friday until the Azerbaijani authorities reverse restrictions that protesters say prevent hijab-wearing students from entering classrooms.

The demonstrations follow amendments adopted by the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers on September 21 concerning school uniforms. The amendments prohibit additional clothing that violates uniform requirements or the secular principles of public education, without explicitly banning the hijab. However, the implementation of these rules has sparked controversy and protests following reports that hijab-wearing students were prevented from attending classes and that disciplinary measures were taken against teachers for wearing the hijab.

On October 12, Azerbaijan’s Interior Ministry announced the detention of 37 people in connection with protests in the capital, Baku, on the grounds of disturbing public order.

Amnesty International called on the Azerbaijani authorities on October 16 to end restrictions imposed on hijab-wearing students and release those detained for participating in peaceful protests. The organization considered denying girls access to education because of the hijab an infringement on freedom of religion and the right to education.

The sit-in in London reflects how the issue has extended beyond Azerbaijan, amid growing calls to guarantee students’ right to education, respect their religious freedom, and ensure that religious appearance does not become a barrier to continuing their studies.

Al-Zahraa University for Women Stands in Solidarity with Azerbaijani Students

Al-Zahraa University for Women held a solidarity rally on Saturday, October 16, 2026, in support of Muslim female students in Azerbaijan. The rally rejected restrictions on wearing the hijab in educational institutions and reaffirmed girls’ right to continue their education while preserving their religious and cultural identity.

The event, held on the university campus, was attended by administrative and teaching staff as well as a number of students. In her address, the university president, Professor Dr. Zainab Al-Mulla Al-Sultani, stressed the importance of respecting freedom of belief and the practice of religious rituals, rejecting measures that restrict students’ right to wear the hijab.

Al-Mulla Al-Sultani emphasized the need to protect Muslim women’s religious and cultural rights and guarantee their right to education without compromising their convictions or identity. The rally reflected opposition to depriving students of educational opportunities because of their religious appearance.

Al-Sadr Calls for a Unified Demonstration in Iraqi Schools and Universities

As part of the Iraqi response, the leader of the National Shiite Movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, called in a statement published on his official account for a unified demonstration at public and private schools and universities, including women-only and mixed institutions, on the morning of Thursday, October 22.

The demonstration was called to reject decisions banning the hijab in some countries and to support freedom of dress. Al-Sadr stressed that the gathering should be organized and peaceful, last only a few minutes, and not interfere with the school curriculum. He also instructed participants not to raise any pictures or banners other than the Iraqi flag.

The call adds a new dimension to the issue by moving the response toward an announced action within Iraqi educational institutions. It also highlights the expanding debate over the hijab, freedom of religion, and students’ right to continue their education.

The initiative further underscores the importance of expressing views peacefully and within an organized framework while preserving the normal course of education and avoiding disruption to classes. Schools and universities, in this context, should remain spaces for learning and dialogue rather than places where students are deprived of educational opportunities.

Najaf Opens Its Schools to Receive 1,000 Students Affected by the Restrictions

In a government initiative with humanitarian and educational implications, Najaf Deputy Governor Dr. Karrar Mahboba announced a plan to receive 1,000 female students affected by restrictions on wearing the hijab in Azerbaijan and work to provide them with an opportunity to continue their education in the province’s schools. The initiative reflects an effort to translate solidarity with their cause into practical action that places their educational future among the top priorities.

The initiative highlights the potential role of local government institutions in responding to crises that threaten children’s and young people’s right to education. This includes exploring ways to accommodate affected students and providing an alternative educational pathway that allows them to continue their studies without losing academic years. The move also sends a message of solidarity emphasizing the importance of protecting the right to education and preserving students’ dignity.

Implementation of the initiative will depend on coordination with the Ministry of Education and relevant authorities, completion of the administrative and educational requirements for admission, and identification of the students’ needs and arrangements for their accommodation in the province. These steps will be necessary to turn the announcement into concrete procedures and actual educational opportunities.

Human Rights: Education, Freedom of Religion, and Non-Discrimination

From a human rights perspective, the case of hijab-wearing students goes beyond a dispute over school uniforms. It raises questions about the right to education, freedom of religion, equality, non-discrimination, and the ability of educational institutions to accommodate religious and cultural differences without harming students’ educational opportunities.

In this context, Talal Mutaab, who is involved in human rights issues, addresses the case from a rights-based perspective, focusing on the need to ensure equal educational opportunities for girls and prevent their academic futures from being disrupted because of their appearance or religious beliefs.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights establishes these principles in several articles. Article 26 recognizes everyone’s right to education, while Article 18 protects freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.

These rights provide an important reference point in discussions about how students should be treated and how discrimination that prevents them from continuing their education can be avoided.

They also place responsibility on the relevant authorities to consider fundamental rights and freedoms when implementing educational regulations and to resolve disputes in ways that preserve students’ dignity and guarantee continued education, while taking applicable legal frameworks into account.

The Hijab in Islam: Religious Commitment and the Right to Education

From a religious perspective, the hijab is associated with a Muslim woman’s convictions and religious commitment. Restrictions on wearing it therefore raise questions that extend beyond outward appearance to the relationship between personal belief, individual freedom, and the right to continue one’s education.

In this context, religious scholar Sheikh Ahmed Al-Jubouri presents his perspective on the status of the hijab in Islam and its significance for Muslim women, as well as the issue of compelling female students to remove it and the

implications for their right to education.

This dimension of the issue highlights the importance of addressing the situation in ways that preserve students’ dignity and enable them to continue their studies without measures that may push them to abandon education or force them to choose between their religious commitment and academic future.

Religious considerations intersect here with educational and human rights concerns, placing the issue before a shared responsibility to seek solutions that ensure continued education, respect human dignity, and reduce exclusion and the denial of opportunities.

From Statements to Action: The Future of Students at the Heart of the Issue

Between the restrictions facing some students in Azerbaijan, the call for a demonstration in Iraq, and Najaf’s initiative to receive 1,000 students, the issue is becoming a practical test of whether public positions can bring about meaningful change in the lives of those affected and guarantee their continued education.

The call by Muqtada al-Sadr and the initiative announced by Najaf Deputy Governor Dr. Karrar Mahboba represent two complementary approaches. The first focuses on expressing solidarity and rejecting restrictions on the hijab, while the second concerns the possibility of providing an alternative educational opportunity for affected students. The initiative’s implementation will depend on completing coordination with the relevant authorities and defining admission procedures, educational and living requirements, and a clear implementation timeline.

Amid these developments, the need for solutions that allow students to continue their studies and preserve their dignity remains paramount. Protecting the right to education must be central to addressing the issue, giving girls the opportunity to pursue their academic futures and achieve their ambitions.

Important editorial note before publication: The original Arabic text contains details that should be verified, including the dates of the events, the reported number of detainees, the exact wording of the Azerbaijani regulations, and the implementation status of Najaf’s initiative. The sections referring to Talal Mutaab and Sheikh Ahmed Al-Jubouri should also be supported by their actual statements or interviews. I have translated the information provided without independently verifying these claims.