“When the hijab is prohibited behind school doors, silence becomes complicity.” Guided by this conviction and demonstrating an unwavering principled stance, the Middle Euphrates Technical University organized a large-scale protest on Thursday, 22 October 2026, in the university campus square to condemn the decision to ban the hijab in educational institutions in Azerbaijan.
The protest took place amid ongoing debate over restrictions on wearing the hijab in Azerbaijan. It was attended by Dr. Liqaa Al Yaseen, a member of the Executive Board of the Martyr Al-Saeed Shrine Foundation, and witnessed broad participation from students, faculty members, and staff of the University Presidency and its affiliated colleges and institutions at the Kufa, Najaf, and Babylon campuses. The university campus thus became a platform for solidarity, united around a clear message: Education is a right, and wearing the hijab is a matter of freedom.
In a speech addressing the humanitarian and legal dimensions of the issue, Professor Dr. Hassan Latif Al-Zubaidi, President of the University, stated: “This gathering is not merely a protest; it is an unequivocal declaration of rejection of any decision that infringes upon the religious and personal freedoms guaranteed by divine laws and international human rights conventions. Education is a right for all, without discrimination on the basis of belief or attire.”
Al-Zubaidi added: “Religious freedom and Muslim women’s right to wear the hijab constitute personal freedoms protected under international laws and conventions. Prohibiting the hijab represents a clear violation of the principle of freedom of belief and will adversely affect girls’ right to education.”
For her part, Dr. Liqaa Al Yaseen offered an in-depth intellectual perspective on the meaning of the hijab, explaining its significance in upholding virtue and promoting fairness in relations between the sexes. She emphasized that the hijab is neither an impenetrable barrier nor a deep divide between men and women. She further noted that, within the framework of Islamic principles and etiquette, women have not been prohibited from pursuing education, engaging in trade, or participating in other social activities that benefit the Islamic community.
The participating students also delivered a message of direct solidarity, emphasizing that their gathering represented a message from Middle Euphrates Technical University students to the female students in Azerbaijan affected by this decision. They called on international organizations concerned with human rights and education to intervene urgently to ensure the freedom to wear the hijab in Azerbaijani schools and universities.
The protest was held in alignment with the directives of Iraq’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, which has categorically rejected practices that deprive female students of the right to wear the hijab. The Ministry has emphasized the importance of respecting personal freedom, human dignity, and women’s right to choose their appearance and clothing.
It is worth noting that Iraq’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has taken the initiative to open admission opportunities at Iraqi universities to Azerbaijani female students who wear the hijab, through approved admission channels, including fully funded scholarships. This initiative underscores the importance of respecting freedom of belief, safeguarding women’s right to education, and promoting the values of tolerance and peaceful coexistence among peoples.
