Turkish journalist and political commentator Ardan Zentürk said a dispute over headscarves in Azerbaijani schools is being used to provoke tension between Baku and Ankara, warning that abandoning secular principles could weaken Turkey’s cooperation across the Caucasus and Central Asia.
Zentürk made the comments on October 4 during an appearance on APA TV, responding to controversy in parts of the Turkish public over an incident at Secondary School No. 6 in Sumgayit.
He said the political foundation of the Azerbaijan-Turkey alliance remains strong under the Shusha Declaration, signed in 2021. However, he argued that attempts by Turkic states or their publics to intervene in one another’s domestic affairs could create a dangerous precedent and fuel new disputes.
What Triggered the Controversy
The debate followed reports that girls wearing headscarves were initially denied entry to the Sumgayit school. According to Zentürk, the students were allowed to enter wearing headscarves the following day and there is no nationwide ban on headscarves in Azerbaijan.
He said Azerbaijan’s school rules establish a standard uniform but do not explicitly mention either headscarves or hijabs. Zentürk cited that distinction to argue that a single school incident should not be portrayed as a state campaign against religious clothing.
Secularism as a Basis for Cooperation
Zentürk placed the dispute in a broader regional context, saying the Turkic world includes Sunni, Shiite, Alevi, Christian, Buddhist, Jewish and other communities. In his view, a secular political model allows states with different religious traditions to maintain cooperation without turning questions of faith into cross-border political conflicts.
He also interpreted President Ilham Aliyev’s statements against foreign interference as a warning about radical religious influence. Zentürk’s reference to Iran was his own assessment and not a new official statement by the Azerbaijani government.
The commentator said Turkey would risk isolating itself from partners in the Caucasus and Central Asia if it moved away from secular governance. He urged Turkish audiences not to turn a school dress-code dispute into pressure on relations with Azerbaijan.
The report is based on APA’s full report and video. The original Russian-language version was published by Vesti Baku.