Aliyev is expected in Ankara, but where are you now? – Saral’s time is up
Oktay Saral is gone — and the story continues...
Let’s speak openly. The headscarf issue quickly turned into a matter of STATE SOVEREIGNTY.
There was even an illustration, apparently by Şəhriyar Sarıca, which read: “The president first liberated our lands, and now he has liberated our people.”
What happened?
Who is Oktay Saral? He served as chief adviser to the President of Türkiye. His job was to serve the Turkish state. Yet on October 13, he suddenly intervened in Azerbaijan’s domestic education policy.
At the time, Azerbaijan officially clarified that the issue was not a “headscarf ban” at all. It concerned a prohibition on additional clothing that violated the school uniform policy and the principle of secularism. In other words, the law applies to everyone, and the uniform applies to everyone.
Saral, however, opposed this position, making populist statements on social media without investigating the matter and declaring, “Unacceptable!” — stirring up controversy.
We were right to ask the fundamental question:
Who are you to decide what Azerbaijan’s education system can or cannot accept?
Why did Ankara take action so quickly?
Because Baku rightly raised the issue. As sources told Middle East Eye and Talat Atilla confirmed today, Azerbaijan communicated through official channels that it did not want a chief adviser interfering in its internal affairs.
And what happened? Talat Atilla himself wrote today:
“I asked, ‘Have you been dismissed?’ He said, ‘Yes. We are not defined by our positions. Our esteemed president appointed me, and I left on his instructions.’ I asked, ‘Was it because of your statements about Azerbaijan?’ He replied, ‘Yes, it seems so.’”
In other words, the man himself admits that he left because of his statements about Azerbaijan.
What does this mean?
It means the Turkish state understood Azerbaijan’s justified position. President Erdoğan himself instructed Saral to leave his post. Erdoğan knows that relations between Azerbaijan and Türkiye are far more important than a chief adviser’s Twitter populism. The slogan “One nation, two states” cannot be turned into an issue for someone to exploit in pursuit of personal popularity.
This should serve as a lesson to people like Saral:
Azerbaijan is a secular state governed by the rule of law. School uniform rules are determined in Baku, not by an adviser arriving from Of.
If you want to defend the headscarf, first address the problems in your own country. Do not lecture Azerbaijani women about religion. Azerbaijani women know better than you how to be veiled, educated and loyal to their state.
There are boundaries to be respected in relations between states. A chief adviser speaks on behalf of the state. If you speak on behalf of the state, you must understand the consequences of your words.
I see Saral’s departure as a sign that Baku’s voice was heard in Ankara’s highest offices.
That is why this matter is now closed. Saral is gone; the brotherhood between Azerbaijan and Türkiye remains.
Period.
Aliyev is expected in Ankara now — but where are you?
Aziz Alibayli
International affairs expert
