Hijab ban at schools in Azerbaijan: What's behind the rare wave of protests?

A dispute over Islamic headscarves in Azerbaijani schools has triggered protests at home and an unusual exchange of criticism between politicians in Azerbaijan and Turkey , two countries whose leaders routinely describe their relationship as that of "one nation, two states". The row has raised questions about religious freedom, sovereignty and the limits of Turkish and Iranian influence in the south Caucasian country. The unprecedented protests have been taking place across Azerbaijan for a nearly week. Children have demonstrated against the headscarf ban introduced at schools. Among those rallying outside of schools are girls who wear Islamic headscarves; others, including boys, have joined classmates in solidarity.