21.10.2026 13:41
Azerbaijan declared 31 Turkish citizens, including New Welfare Party (Yeniden Refah Partisi) Chairman Fatih Erbakan, MP Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu, former referee Ahmet Çakar, and journalist Yusuf Kaplan, persona non grata and banned them from entering the country. The Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs cited social media posts alleged to target the country's sovereignty, national security, and constitutional order as the justification for the decision.
According to a statement by Azerbaijani authorities, stated to be dated October 21, 2026, and numbered 406/26, 31 citizens of the Republic of Turkey were included in the entry ban to the country. It was reported that these individuals were declared 'undesirable persons' under Azerbaijani legislation, while various statements made on social media and internet platforms were cited as the justification for the decision.
It drew attention that the entry ban list included well-known names from politics, media, academia, and religious circles.
FATİH ERBAKAN, GERCERLİOĞLU AND AHMET ÇAKAR ARE ALSO ON THE LIST
Among those on the shared list were New Welfare Party Chairman Fatih Erbakan, MP Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu, and HÜDA PAR Deputy Chairman Yahya Uğraş.
Former Hagia Sophia imam and Marmara University Faculty of Theology faculty member Mehmet Boynukalın, journalists and writers Yusuf Kaplan and İsmail Kılıçarslan, and former referee and sports commentator Ahmet Çakar were also listed among those stated to be banned from entering the country.
SOVEREIGNTY AND NATIONAL SECURITY CITED AS JUSTIFICATION
In the statement attributed to Azerbaijani authorities, it was stated that the decision was taken to protect the country's sovereignty, national security, and constitutional order.
It was alleged that the individuals on the list used statements targeting Azerbaijan's sovereignty, constitutional order, people, and administration through social media platforms and websites.
The statement also listed among the justifications for the decision allegations such as calls to change the government by force, encouraging violence on the basis of religious radicalism, and inciting religious hatred and enmity.
However, no concrete examples were shared on an individual basis regarding which of the people on the list the allegations were directed at, or due to which statements or actions.
31 TURKISH CITIZENS BANNED FROM ENTERING AZERBAIJAN
The list announced to the public by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan included the following names:
1. Ahmet Barış İyison – Manager of İyison Media and the Gazeteciabi project
2. Cem Özyurt – Blog writer
3. Akın Duru – TV8 and Acunmedya employee
4. Dursun Eker – Journalist, File Production Services
5. Adem Özköse – Journalist, political analyst, and writer
6. Muhammed Emin Yıldırım – Istanbul representative of Köklü Değişim magazine and media group
7. Cüneyt Sezer – Blog writer, sociologist, and political analyst
8. Serhat Koyuncu – A figure active in public life
9. Mikail Ayyıldız – Religious researcher and writer
10. Ahi Aratoğlu – Research writer, poet, and sociologist
11. Muharrem Çavuş – Former AK Party Boğaziçi Youth Branch President (2020-2025)
12. Fatih Erbakan – Chairman of the New Welfare Party
13. Yahya Uğraş – Deputy Chairman of HÜDA PAR
14. Aydın Binboğa – Economist and politician
15. Hakkı Eren – Köklü Değişim journalist
16. Sait Seyitoğlu – HÜDA PAR Batman financial and administrative affairs officer
17. Mehmet Boynukalın – Faculty member at Marmara University Faculty of Theology, former Hagia Sophia imam
18. Okan Aytaş – Journalist, owner of Finansopia Media
19. Mert Armağan – Journalist
20. Yaşar Yavuz – Journalist
21. Ahmet Sırrı Arvas – Poet, journalist, and writer
22. Yusuf Kaplan – Writer and journalist
23. Erdinç Teğmen – Owner of Erte Media
24. Ahmet Çakar – Sports commentator and former football referee
25. Halil Atakan Ay – Theologian
26. İsmail Kılıçarslan – TVNET and Yeni Şafak writer
27. Murat Şahin – Akit TV program host
28. İrfan Kaya Ülger – Akit TV program host
29. Fatin Dağıstanlı – Akit TV program host
30. Ömer Ulutaş – Chairman of the Toprak Party
31. Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu – Member of Parliament
NEW MEASURE MESSAGE FROM AZERBAIJAN
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan reported that it will continue to take measures against statements it considers directed against the country's sovereignty and security, and activities it alleges fuel enmity.
The decision also received wide coverage in the Azerbaijani press, and the information that 31 Turkish citizens were banned from entering the country was confirmed by reports attributed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan.