Ayatollah condemns Islamic hijab ban in Azerbaijan
Tehran Times Political Desk

QOM – Grand Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani has sent a message to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, strongly denouncing a ban on Islamic dress code recently imposed in Azerbaijan as a move against Islam and the human rights laws.

“Reportedly, Azerbaijan’s education minister has ordered the (relevant officials) to prevent the students who wear Islamic hijab (headscarf) from entering the schools and universities… I should remind you that this measure goes against the divine law and the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights,” Ayatollah Sobhani stated.

The UN Declaration of Human Rights calls for respecting all beliefs and religions and friendship among all nations and races, he said, asking Aliyev, “Is it right that half of your society become deprived of education due to practicing virtue and adhering to God’s law or be forced to ignore the divine law and feel pangs of conscience (for disobeying God’s orders)?”

The ayatollah urged the Azeri president to order the revocation of the recent decree on hijab in order to restore unity and win back the public support