Police In Baku Violently Disperse Pro-Hijab Activists

Police in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, violently dispersed dozens of activists gathered outside the Ministry of Education on Friday. More than 100 protesters picketed the ministry demanding the scrapping of a ban on headscarves, or hijabs, in schools. The protesters were holding placards saying "Freedom to Hijab!", and "Islam Will Win!" Dozens of police used truncheons to beat the activists. Several of the protesters, who resisted the police intervention, were detained. Azerbaijan is mainly Muslim country with very deep Islamic traditions. Azerbaijan's Ministry of Education has officially banned headscarves for girls at schools. Muslim activists have been protesting the ban for some time.