PFPA member Metanet Turan, jailed over hijab protest, reportedly under psychological pressure in detention centre
According to a party official, the activist, who suffers from thrombosis and gynaecological conditions, has not received a medical examination for more than 15 days and is not allowed to meet her family.
Metanet Turan, a member of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (PFPA) who was arrested for taking part in a protest against the hijab ban on 13 October, is reportedly being subjected to systematic psychological pressure at the Kurdakhani Pre-Trial Detention Centre.
Gulnara Rahimova, deputy chair of the PFPA's Narimanov district branch, shared the information on her social media account. According to her, the activist, who suffers from thrombosis and gynaecological conditions, has not been given a medical examination for more than 15 days. Although an examination has been promised repeatedly, the promise has not been kept.
According to Gulnara Rahimova, Metanet Turan is also not allowed to meet her family. The head of the detention centre shifts the responsibility onto the investigator, while the investigator says he has imposed no such restriction. It is also noted that the activist's phone calls are being cut off midway.
Metanet Turan was detained on 13 October for taking part in a protest against the hijab ban. She was initially placed under house arrest, but after the prosecutor's office appealed, the Sumgayit Court of Appeal changed that decision on 17 October and ordered her held in custody for two months. She is charged under Article 233 of the Criminal Code. It was not possible to obtain the position of the Penitentiary Service on the matter.
On 21 September the Cabinet of Ministers amended the rules on school uniforms. Under the decision, clothing items that violate the uniformity of the school uniform and do not comply with the secular principle of education are not allowed. Similar requirements for teachers' clothing were approved on 6 October. Although the decisions do not mention the hijab directly, their implementation caused discontent over hijab-wearing pupils and teachers not being allowed into schools.
On 9 October the Baku City Education Department announced that monitoring of pupils' and teachers' compliance with dress rules in schools would be stepped up. On 12 October the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that 37 people had been arrested in connection with protests against the hijab restrictions. The ministry alleged that they had attempted to disrupt public order and obstruct the work of educational institutions. A criminal case was opened under Article 233 of the Criminal Code (organising actions that cause a breach of public order, or active participation in such actions).
