Several Turkish Citizens Added to the “Undesirable Persons” List

Azerbaijan has declared 31 Turkish citizens persona non grata and banned them from entering the country.

According to Yeniavaz.com, citing Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the decision was made in view of statements published through social media and internet platforms that were considered to be directed against Azerbaijan’s sovereignty, national security, constitutional order, people and leadership.

The ministry said the statements concerned calls for the forcible change of government, violence motivated by religious radicalism, and the incitement of religious hatred and hostility.

The entry ban applies to all 31 individuals named on the list.

The list includes journalists, bloggers, political analysts, academics, religious writers and politicians.

The individuals named are:

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, columnist 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 – Chair of the AK Party’s Boğaziçi Youth Branch (2020–2025)

12. Fatih Erbakan – Chair of the Yeniden Refah Party

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

14. Aydın Binboğa – Economist and politician

15. Hakkı Eren – Journalist for Köklü Değişim magazine

16. Sait Seyitoğlu – Head of the financial and administrative affairs department of 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. Erdinç Teğmen – Owner of Erte Medya

24. Ahmet Çakar – Former Member of Parliament

25. Halil Atakan Ay – Theologian

26. İsmail Kılıçarslan – TVNET and Yeni Şafak newspaper

27. Murat Şahin – Akit TV programme host

28. İrfan Kaya Ülger – Akit TV programme host

29. Fatin Dağıstanlı – Akit TV programme host

30. Ömer Ulutaş – Chair of the Toprak Party

31. Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu – Member of Parliament

The statement added that Azerbaijan would continue taking appropriate measures in response to calls directed against the country and activities that promote hostility.