Celal Çiftçi apologises to the Azerbaijani people

Turkish journalist Celal Çiftçi has apologised to the Azerbaijani state and people over remarks that sparked public discontent in Azerbaijan.

TodayPress TV reports that, in a statement issued on the matter, the journalist acknowledged that his choice of words had gone beyond his intended message and asked for his sincere apology to be accepted.

Çiftçi said his intention had been to express, as a journalist, his sensitivity regarding the headscarf issue and his views on freedom of religion and conscience. However, he stressed that he should have more carefully considered the possible consequences of the language he used to convey his views.

He stated that he had no intention of interfering in Azerbaijan’s internal affairs, inciting the people against the state, creating unrest in the country, calling for the violent seizure of power or advocating the forcible alteration of the constitutional order. The journalist also said he rejected allegations that he had intended to incite religious hatred, hostility or discrimination.

Çiftçi emphasised that if his words had been interpreted as such a call, that interpretation did not reflect his genuine views. He said he rejected violence, coups, threats and the use of force, adding that he had not called on anyone to engage in unlawful actions.

The journalist stated that he respected Azerbaijan’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and constitutional order. According to him, decisions concerning the country’s future belong to the Azerbaijani people and the state’s constitutional institutions.

Clarifying his position on the headscarf issue, Çiftçi said his main objective was to ensure that people were not excluded because of their beliefs or clothing choices. He emphasised that he respected the dignity, rights and free will of everyone, whether they covered their heads or not.

In his statement, the journalist also said he had deleted some content in line with this approach and would express his views more carefully in the future.

He called on the relevant authorities to assess his statements fairly and in their entirety, taking into account their context and his stated intentions. Çiftçi also noted that his apology should not be interpreted as an admission of the allegations made against him.

At the end of his statement, the journalist once again offered his sincere apologies to the Azerbaijani state and people, using the phrase “Two states, one nation.”

Kubra Musayeva