Turkey-Azerbaijan ‘rift’: How hijab row tests limits of strategic alliance - Is there an Israel angle? Experts weigh in
A hijab row has strained Turkey-Azerbaijan ties, raising questions about their strategic partnership. While the dispute centres on secularism, experts flag Azerbaijan’s ties with Israel and regional rivalries as deeper sources of tension between Ankara and Baku.
Turkey and Azerbaijan, once described as "one nation, two states," find their strategic alliance being tested by a hijab controversy. The dispute over headscarves in public schools, which has sparked criticism from Turkish politicians and a sharp response from Azerbaijan, highlights deeper issues in the relationship between the two countries.
While the immediate trigger is the hijab row, analysts suggest that Azerbaijan's ties with Israel could be a more significant source of tension. Professor Muddassir Quamar, an expert on West Asian affairs, argues that the dispute over religious dress and secular education raises broader questions about sovereignty over religious life, national identity, and the role of the secular state.
Quamar also points to Azerbaijan's close defense and strategic ties with both Israel and Turkey, and the deterioration of Turkey's relations with Israel post-Gaza war, as factors that could complicate bilateral relations.
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