Erdogan bows to Azerbaijani pressure, sacks adviser over headscarf controversy

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has sacked a chief advisor on Sunday after a dispute over Azerbaijan's headscarf ban caused a serious rift between the two states.

Oktay Saral confirmed his dismissal to local media saying he had "absolute respect" for the decision.

Saral's dismissal was reportedly the core demand from Azerbaijan, according to a report in Middle East Eye.

Azerbaijan imposed a headscarf ban in public primary and secondary schools, which triggered intense criticism from across the Muslim world particularly in Turkey.

Saral posted on social media, saying "It is unacceptable to deny the right to education to students wearing headscarves in Azerbaijan!" He also demanded that Azerbaijan reverse the decision immediately..

This provoked considerable anger in Azerbaijan, as, despite the 'brotherly' relations between the two Turkic states, many felt that his remarks were condescending and disrespectful of their relationship.

Farid Shukurlu told i24NEWS that 'having brotherly relations does not mean that Azerbaijan is Turkey's junior'.

Despite the close historical, cultural and diplomatic ties between the two states, they have diverged on the topic of religion since Erdogan came to power in 2003.

Azerbaijan practices a strict form of state secularism similar to French laïcité. Turkey also had similar practices, but most of these were gradually dismantled throughout Erdogan's tenure as prime minister and later as president of Turkey.