Ali Akbar Velayati, international affairs advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, challenged Azerbaijan's relations with Israel in reference to the recent hijab controversy in schools, raising questions about Baku's suitability to host important Islamic conferences.
Criticism of Azerbaijan's Hosting
In a post published on October 14, Velayati presented Azerbaijan with an option that included "preserving faith" and "friendship with Tel Aviv." He referred to the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) held last week in Baku and criticized Turkey's stance for leaving the hall during the speech of Isaac Herzog, the President of Israel. Velayati asked, "What did Baku do? A warm welcome!"
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Impact on Azerbaijan's Relations with Islamic Countries
Velayati's remarks were accompanied by criticism of Azerbaijan's suitability to host the upcoming Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit. He linked the restrictions imposed on hijab in schools to Baku's willingness to welcome Herzog. This new stance from Iranian officials reflects a shift in approach towards hijab in Azerbaijan, which is largely driven by hardline media.
This issue is not only an internal controversy but has also turned into a broader geopolitical competition involving Azerbaijan's relations with Israel and its position in the Islamic world. By raising these questions, Velayati aims to convey a message to other Islamic countries that preserving Islamic principles and values in the face of friendship with countries that have historically had tense relations with Muslims is a priority.
Currently, these statements could have a profound impact on Azerbaijan's relations with Islamic countries, especially Iran. While Azerbaijan continues to seek to strengthen its economic and political ties with Tel Aviv, threats and criticisms from Tehran may overshadow these relations.
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