Erdogan plans Azerbaijan visit as headscarf dispute strains ties

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan plans to travel to Azerbaijan on Sunday, 8 November, for Victory Day celebrations, as the two allies face tensions over an Azerbaijani school headscarf ban. Announcing the visit to journalists on Thursday, Erdogan emphasised the depth of the countries’ relationship and described continuing efforts to resolve the dispute.

The restrictions, introduced in September, barred students and teachers wearing headscarves from entering primary and high schools. They prompted protests and strong criticism on Turkish social media, where some Turkish officials also voiced objections. The public backlash in Turkey has become a source of friction between Ankara and Baku.

Azerbaijan responded by asking Turkey to dismiss a presidential adviser, prosecute commentators accused of insulting Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and restrict access to social media accounts criticising Baku. Erdogan subsequently removed the adviser, and legal action against commentators followed. Those measures were intended to repair relations and encourage Aliyev to attend last week’s Turkic States Summit, but the Azerbaijani leader stayed away.

Erdogan said on Thursday that his telephone conversation with Aliyev and his decision to send Turkey’s intelligence chief and foreign minister to Azerbaijan last month were now publicly known. He added that contact had continued between the presidents and between their spouses, describing those exchanges as part of the diplomatic effort.

Speaking about the forthcoming celebrations, Erdogan stressed that Azerbaijan attached considerable importance to Victory Day. He portrayed the relationship as extending beyond ordinary diplomacy and said the two nations shared an “unbreakable bond” based on their history, culture and destiny.

Whether the presidential visit will settle the disagreement remains uncertain. Azerbaijani outlets close to the government continue to publish criticism of Ankara, while Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s trip to Baku last month was met with disdain. Aliyev’s absence from the summit also indicated that Azerbaijan remained upset by the criticism coming from Turkey.

The two sides have offered differing explanations for the tensions. Turkish officials describe the episode as a misunderstanding. Azerbaijani sources, however, complain that Ankara treats their country as if it were a Turkish province, underscoring their objections to Turkey’s approach.

The disagreement also leaves another planned diplomatic gathering unresolved. Ankara wants Aliyev to take part in the Cop31 climate summit in Antalya later this month. Baku has not yet given a definitive response on whether he will attend.