Azerbaijan declares 31 Turkish citizens “persona non grata” – list

Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has added 31 Turkish citizens to its list of “persona non grata”.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided the information to TodayPress TV.

According to the ministry, the individuals listed below have been declared “persona non grata” in accordance with Azerbaijani legislation and banned from entering Azerbaijan. The decision was made in light of statements they had made on various social media networks and internet platforms directed against the sovereignty, national security, constitutional order, people and leadership of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as calls for the forcible overthrow of the government and the incitement of religious violence, hatred and hostility on religious grounds.

The list includes:

1. Ahmet Barış İyison – Head of İyison Medya and the Gazeteciabi project

2. Cem Özyurt – Blogger

3. Akın Duru – TV8 and Acunmedya employee

4. Dursun Eker – Journalist, File Prodüksiyon Hizmetleri

5. Adem Özköse – Journalist, political analyst and writer

6. Muhammed Emin Yıldırım – Istanbul representative of the Köklü Değişim magazine and media group

7. Cüneyt Sezer – Blogger, sociologist, publicist and political analyst

8. Serhat Koyuncu – Public figure

9. Mikail Ayyıldız – Religious writer and researcher

10. Ahi Aratoğlu – Research writer, poet and sociologist

11. Muharrem Çavuş – Chairman of the AK Party’s Boğaziçi Youth Branch (2020–2025)

12. Fatih Erbakan – Chairman of the Yeniden Refah Party

13. Yahya Uğraş – Deputy chairman of the HÜDA PAR Party

14. Aydın Binboğa – Economist and politician

15. Hakkı Eren – Journalist for Köklü Değişim

16. Sait Seyitoğlu – Head of financial and administrative affairs for HÜDA PAR in Batman

17. Mehmet Boynukalın – Professor of theology at Marmara University and imam of Hagia Sophia

18. Okan Aytaş – Journalist and owner of Finansopia Medya

19. Mert Armağan – Journalist

20. Yaşar Yavuz – Journalist for Yeni Şafak, Diriliş Postası and Referans

21. Ahmet Sırrı Arvas – Poet, journalist and writer

22. Yusuf Kaplan – Writer and journalist

23. Erdinc Teğmen – Owner of Erte Medya

24. Ahmet Çakar – Sports commentator and former football referee

25. Halil Atakan Ay – Theologian

26. İsmail Kılıçarslan – TV NET and Yeni Şafak newspaper

27. Murat Şahin – Programme host on Akit TV

28. İrfan Kaya Ülger – Programme host on Akit TV

29. Fatin Dağistanlı – Programme host on Akit TV

30. Ömer Ulutaş – Chairman of the Toprak Party

31. Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu – Member of Parliament

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also stated that it would continue taking appropriate measures in response to calls and activities that promote hostility towards the Republic of Azerbaijan.