October 16, 2026
The Women’s Action Unit in Hezbollah expressed its deep concern and denunciation of what it described as “restrictive measures and discriminatory practices” to which veiled women and girls are exposed to in Azerbaijan, considering that these developments target their religious identity.
The unit explained, in an official statement, that it is following with great concern what veiled women are exposed to, pointing out that the most recent of these measures is sudden modifications to school uniforms in government schools, and the resulting ban on veiled female teachers and students from entering educational institutions, and depriving them of exercising their rights to learning and education.
The unit denounced these “arbitrary and exclusionary practices,” stressing that they constitute a blatant violation of religious freedoms and human rights, and a direct violation of women’s dignity and their inherent right to adhere to the teachings of their religion.
The statement stressed that “forcing a woman to choose between her hijab and her right to learn and teach constitutes discrimination that cannot be accepted or justified under any circumstances.”
At the conclusion of its statement, the Women’s Action Unit called on all human rights, humanitarian, and women’s institutions and organizations to take urgent action to put an end to these “violations,” stressing at the same time its commitment to following up on the issue and raising a voice in rejection of any practice that targets women’s religious identity or detracts from their freedom, rights, and dignity.
