Azerbaijan adds 31 Turkish citizens to entry ban list

The Azerbaijani administration declared 31 Turkish citizens—including prominent figures from politics, journalism, academia, and religious circles—as persona non grata and banned them from entering the country, stating that they made statements against the country's sovereignty, constitutional order, and security via internet platforms and social media.

The list published by the Baku administration included politicians such as Yeniden Refah Party Chairman Fatih Erbakan, member of parliament Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu, and HÜDA PAR Deputy Chairman Yahya Uğraş, as well as well-known figures like Mehmet Boynukalın, Yusuf Kaplan, İsmail Kılıçarslan, and Ahmet Çakar. The official statement alleged that these individuals used expressions targeting Azerbaijan's national security, constitutional order, and governance on various social media platforms, and also made posts calling for the forcible change of government and inciting religious hatred. On the other hand, authorities did not share detailed examples regarding which specific words or actions of the names on the list led to their inclusion in this scope.