Erdogan's Senior Advisor Resigns After Criticizing Hijab Ban in Azerbaijan - Sarmad
Oktay Saral announced his resignation in protest against the hijab ban in Azerbaijan.
Translated by Qiyas from سرمد — Original source
Turkish Presidential Senior Advisor Oktay Saral announced his resignation following his sharp criticism of Azerbaijan’s authorities for banning the wearing of headscarves in public institutions.
Saral wrote on the “X” platform on Monday: “I am today submitting my resignation from my position as Senior Advisor to our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, a role I have held with pride, honor, and responsibility since 2016.”
He added, “Positions change, and titles shift. But what matters most is not the position, but the values we uphold.” He emphasized that “what is important is not the positions themselves, but the cause we have fought for over the years, and the struggle we have waged side by side with the President.”
The resigning advisor stressed that his decision “does not mean backing away from the values I believe in or my commitment to serving our country,” pledging to continue “walking side by side with President Erdoğan, with the same faith and determination.”
Saral concluded his tweet with a prayer: “We ask God to make us among those who stand firm in the light of truth, not those who pursue power through positions, and to make us among the defenders of the values they believe in, no matter the cost.”
The crisis over the ban on headscarves in educational institutions in Azerbaijan has escalated, marked by domestic protests and official rejection of external interference, particularly from Turkey, with reaffirmations of the state’s secular character under the constitution.
On October 12, 2026, the Ministry of Interior detained 37 people on charges of disrupting public order and interfering with educational institutions. Meanwhile, the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, led by President Ilham Aliyev, rejected Turkish criticisms voiced by Oktay Saral and members of the Justice and Development Party.
The crisis dates back to September 21, 2026, when Prime Minister Ali Asadov signed Decision No. 309 to amend school uniform regulations, based on a legal amendment issued on July 7, 2026, which added the principles of “patriotism and secularism” to the law on general education.
