BAKU, Azerbaijan - Azerbaijan’s Health Ministry said a letter circulating on social media that purported to impose restrictions on wearing hijabs in medical facilities was fabricated.
The ministry and the Media and Broadcasting Council said in a joint statement that the Health Ministry had not approved, issued or distributed the document or any related instruction.
Officials described the presentation of the forged letter as an official document as disinformation that could mislead the public. They said there was no ban on wearing hijabs in medical facilities.
The Media and Broadcasting Council urged news organizations and social media users to verify the origin and authenticity of documents before publishing or sharing them.
The statement concerned medical facilities specifically and did not announce any broader change in religious-dress policy.
Sources: Vesti Baku; Media.az.