Erdogan in a rare move: Fired his right-hand man to avoid losing Israel's friend

Turkish President Erdogan fired one of his senior advisors in an attempt to mend relations with Azerbaijan, following the advisor's criticism of the ban on wearing hijabs in schools in that country. Baku demanded his dismissal.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan fired one of his senior advisors in an unusual move aimed at repairing relations with Azerbaijan, Israel's ally. The crisis began after authorities in Azerbaijan restricted the wearing of religious head coverings in schools, citing that they contradict secular education. The advisor, described as Erdogan's 'right-hand man,' attacked the policy and argued that it constitutes a violation of religious freedom. His remarks sparked outrage in Baku, which viewed them as interference in its internal affairs and demanded his dismissal. Azerbaijan is a strategic partner of Israel, supplying it with oil and purchasing weapons from it, while also maintaining close ties with Turkey. The confrontation highlights the tension between Erdogan's aspiration to present himself as a defender of Muslim identity and the need to preserve the alliance with a secular Muslim state that maintains ties with Israel.