Azerbaijani police and protesters clash in Baku
Azerbaijani police and protesters clashed in Baku over a ban on schoolgirls wearing the Islamic headscarf, or hijab. Protesters estimated about several hundred gathered near the Ministry of Education shouting "God is great" and demanding the resignation of Education Minister Misir Mardanov, “Radio Free Europe” informs.
The hijab ban announced late last year has sparked a series of public protests in Azerbaijan. Authorities say the ban is part of an attempt to restore Soviet-era school uniforms to public education.