30.10.2026 00:23
Presidential Advisor Oktay Saral, who made headlines with his statements regarding the headscarf ban in Azerbaijan, has been dismissed from his post. Saral, stating that he learned of the decision on Saturday, said, "Due to our critical relationship with Azerbaijan, it is natural that certain decisions be made. Our President deemed it appropriate. We accept it willingly."
Presidential Adviser Oktay Saral was dismissed from his post after his statements regarding headscarf practices in Azerbaijan.
In a post on his social media account on October 12, Saral stated that the right to education of students wearing headscarves in Azerbaijan was being obstructed and reacted to the practice.
In his post, Saral used the following statements: "The obstruction of the right to education of students wearing headscarves in Azerbaijan is unacceptable. The right to education cannot be sacrificed to any ideological imposition."
"OUR PRESIDENT DEEMED IT APPROPRIATE"
Speaking for the first time after his dismissal, Saral said in a statement to Nefes newspaper that he respected President Erdoğan's decision.
Drawing attention to the importance of relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey, Saral said, "Our President deemed it appropriate. We accept it with respect. Of course, these are natural things in politics. It is natural and normal for certain decisions to be taken due to some problems and difficulties of countries, especially because of our critical relationship with Azerbaijan. For us, what matters is that our country continues on its path."
"I LEARNED THE NEWS ON SATURDAY"
Saral, who explained that the dismissal decision was communicated to him on Saturday, stated that he handled the process with maturity.
Saral used the following statements: "We will meet with our Honorable Secretary-General about going and asking for forgiveness. I am of that opinion. But of course, I don't know. Our Secretary-General delivered the news to me on Saturday. I also received it with great maturity. We will learn, if it is destined."
WHAT HAPPENED IN AZERBAIJAN?
The decision taken by the government in Azerbaijan regarding dress codes in schools brought along headscarf debates. With the regulation adopted by the Council of Ministers on September 21, students were prohibited from wearing additional clothing that disrupts the integrity of the school uniform and is incompatible with the principle of secular education. Although the regulation did not directly contain the word headscarf, the fact that students and teachers wearing headscarves were not allowed in at some schools caused reactions.
In the protests that began in the capital Baku and its surroundings, students and parents opposed the practice. The Azerbaijani Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that 37 people were detained due to incidents during the demonstrations.
WHO IS OKTAY SARAL?
Oktay Saral was born in 1967 in the Of district of Trabzon. A Turkish politician and former AK Party member of parliament, Saral began his political career in local governments. Having assumed various duties within the AK Party for many years, Saral has a political career extending from mayorship to member of parliament and then to Presidential Advisership.
Saral, who served as Mayor of Of between 1999 and 2011, entered the Grand National Assembly of Turkey by being elected as an Istanbul member of parliament from the AK Party in the 2011 general elections. He continued his duty as a member of parliament until 2015.
Saral, a graduate of the Department of Civil Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture of Eskişehir Osmangazi University, worked as a freelance civil engineer before entering politics.
Appointed as Chief Adviser to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in 2016, Saral also served as a member of the Presidential Local Government Policies Board. He was removed from his position as Chief Adviser on October 25, 2026. Oktay Saral, 59, is married and a father of three children.