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In Azerbaijan, the general consensus holds that it is taboo for men to wear shorts. Anyone who defies the unofficial ban runs the risk of being rebuked by family members, friends or even strangers on the street. The public debate over wearing shorts erupted after a few Caspian Sea resort areas reportedly banned men from entering waterfront restaurants in shorts, Giorgi Lomsadze writes for EURASIANET.org.

The author cites users’ comments on websites as examples of the Azerbaijanis’ attitude towards the shorts. “Most people go to the beach exactly in trunks, flip-flops and tank tops. Nobody is bringing special clothes to change into after swimming in the sea and to go eat gutabs [traditional meat-stuffed flatbreads],” stated a commentary posted on Day.az. However, the ban has plenty of defenders, too. “I have very little desire to dine with my family or with a woman while staring at … hairy legs,” said one Azerbaijani blogger in a comment posted on Kavkazsky Uzel.

Lomsadze reminds that the leader of the Muasir Musavat Party, Hafiz Hajiyev, waded into the debate, saying in a recent interview with oxu.az that the wearing of shorts was “depraved” and “dishonorable.” Hajiyev’s credibility on the issue took a hit when he himself was photographed sporting shorts in a restaurant.

The author of the article highlights that some shorts enthusiasts recently posted online a photo of Azerbaijan’s president, Ilham Aliyev, in shorts.

Earlier, commenting on the news about the ban on shorts in the municipality Novkhani, Azerbaijan, Hafiz Hajiyev said he had negative attitude towards the men wearing shorts. “The Azerbaijani politicians should not be ashamed to raise the issue.

Decent people will not wear shorts,” he said. “For example, the men in shorts should be booed at, stopped and mocked at, acid should be poured on their legs so that they repent and never put on shorts again.” After this statement, young people held a flash mob wearing shorts and walking through Baku center.

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Azerbaijan: Party leader urges to pour acid on legs of men in shorts