Turkey's Erdogan Dismisses Advisor Over Azerbaijan Hijab Row
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan dismissed senior advisor Oktay Saral following his criticism of Azerbaijan's hijab ban in schools, aiming to repair diplomatic ties with Baku.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan dismissed his senior advisor Oktay Saral on Sunday following sharp criticism of Azerbaijan's hijab ban in schools, according to reports. The move is widely seen as an effort to mend diplomatic ties with Baku ahead of an upcoming summit.
Saral confirmed his dismissal in a conversation with Turkish journalist Talaat Atilla, stating that he left upon the president's instructions and harbors no resentment. The controversy erupted after Saral publicly denounced Azerbaijani restrictions on religious head coverings in educational institutions, arguing that the policy violates religious freedom.
The remarks sparked outrage in Baku, where officials condemned the statements as an unacceptable interference in internal affairs. Reports indicated that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev considered boycotting the upcoming Organization of Turkic States summit in Ankara on October 30.
To prevent a major diplomatic rift, Erdogan acted to appease his strategic ally. Azerbaijan remains a crucial regional partner, maintaining deep ethnic and military ties with Ankara while simultaneously sustaining strategic defense and energy cooperation with Israel, despite current tensions between Jerusalem and Turkey.
