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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| Protest against hijab ban in Azerbaijan turns violent |
| 2012-10-06 |
| In Azerbaijan's capital on Friday, police clashed with about 200 Muslim activists protesting a ban on the wearing of the hijab in the nation's secondary schools. Police officers wielding batons clashed with protesters in the capital, Baku, as they broke up the protest outside the Education Ministry. Video of the clashes posted on the Radio Azadliq website showed officers beating some of the protesters with their batons and some activists fighting back with sticks. Several police officers were wounded, and 72 people were arrested. Some protesters carried signs with such slogans as "Stop Islamophobia" and "Freedom for the hijab." The hijab is prohibited under rules that define what kind of uniforms students must wear in Azerbaijan, a mainly Shiite Muslim country where officials have been seeking to prevent the rise of radical Islam. |
| Posted by:ryuge |