Turkey-Azerbaijan ‘rift’: How a row of hijabs is testing the limits of a strategic alliance – Is there an Israeli angle? Experts weigh | Today’s news
Turkey and Azerbaijan have long been called “one nation, two states”. Now, the row over the hijab (headscarf) tests that bond.
Experts have pointed out that while the headscarf dispute is the immediate trigger, Azerbaijan’s ties to Israel could be a deeper source of tension. The controversy also brought to the fore a deeper geopolitical fault line in the relationship between Ankara and Baku.
Videos purportedly showing headscarf girls being denied entry to educational institutions have been widely shared on social media. The Mint could not independently verify the authenticity of these videos.
The two countries have long described their relationship as “one nation, two states”. However, Azerbaijan’s restrictions on religious dress in public schools drew criticism from Turkish political figures and drew a sharp response from Azerbaijan’s ruling party, which defended the country’s right to determine its domestic politics.
While the controversy centers on religious dress and secular education, analysts say the implications go beyond the immediate dispute. Azerbaijan’s strategic relations with Israel could pose a more significant challenge to Ankara-Baku relations at a time when Turkey’s relations with Israel have deteriorated.
Hijab Row Reveals ‘One Nation, Two States’ Borders
In an analysis published on September 29 by the Turan Research Center titled “Hijab and the Secular State in the Turkic World,” Joseph Epstein argued that restrictions on headscarves in Azerbaijan raise broader questions about sovereignty over religious life, national identity, and the role of the secular state.
Epstein noted that Azerbaijan’s approach reflects a broader pattern among several post-Soviet states where governments have sought to keep religious dress out of public schools while presenting secular education as central to a shared national identity.
He argued that the dispute also highlights the limits of Turkish influence over Azerbaijan. Although the countries share close cultural and strategic ties, Baku has maintained a distinct approach to secularism and resisted external pressure on its domestic policies.
Epstein also pointed to the criticism that Azerbaijan’s ties to Israel have attracted in the Turkish media since the Gaza war as another dimension of tension between the two countries.
Why could Israel’s angle matter more
Speaking to Mint, Professor Muddassir Quamar, Associate Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University and an expert on West Asian affairs, said the hijab controversy was primarily a cultural and religious issue regarding the imposition of dress codes on women. Despite protests and statements in Turkey, he said, the dispute is unlikely to have a serious impact on bilateral strategic relations.
However, the differences with Israel could present a greater challenge.
Azerbaijan has developed close defense and strategic ties with both Israel and Turkey, while Turkey’s relations with Israel have deteriorated, Quamar said. This divergence could become more difficult for Ankara and Baku to resolve as their regional priorities evolve.
The difference is important: the hijab dispute may have brought tensions to the fore, but it does not necessarily explain the deeper strategic differences between the two countries.
Regional competition increases the burden
The challenges go beyond Israel. Quamar identified the US-Israel war against Iran and its consequences for the South Caucasus as another factor that could complicate bilateral relations.
“There are several regional and geopolitical factors that may pose a challenge, including the ongoing US-Israeli war against Iran and how it affects the situation in the South Caucasus, as well as Turkey’s ambitions in Central Asia and the South Caucasus region and its attempt to intervene in Armenia today to improve relations and access in the neighborhood. But above all, differences in approach to Israel may present the most difficult issue,” Quabamar Turkey said.