The key facts
- The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry added 31 Turkish citizens to the list of 'undesirable persons', banning them from entry.
- Those banned include party leaders, a member of the Turkish parliament, a professor of theology and imam Mehmet Boynukalin.
- Official Baku stated it would continue such measures in response to 'activity encouraging hostility'.
Entry ban for 31 Turkish citizens
The authorities of Azerbaijan have banned 31 Turkish citizens, including members of parliament and an imam, from entering the territory of the republic. This was reported on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan. All of them have been included in the list of 'undesirable persons'.
The reason — internet posts
The decision was made because of these people's posts on the internet. In Baku, their publications were considered directed against the sovereignty, national security and constitutional order of Azerbaijan, its people and leadership. In addition, the posts were seen as containing calls for the violent change of power and incitement of religious hatred.
Who ended up on the list
The list of 'undesirable persons' includes the head of the 'New Welfare' party Fatih Erbakan, deputy head of the 'Free Cause' party Yahya Ugraş, chairman of the 'Toprak' party Omer Ulutas and member of the Turkish parliament Omer Faruk Gergerlioglu. Also on the list are professor of theology at Marmara University and imam Mehmet Boynukalin, sports commentator and former football referee Ahmet Çakar, as well as a number of media employees, bloggers and public figures.
The Foreign Ministry promised to continue such measures
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry emphasized that the authorities will continue to take such measures in the future in response to calls against the country and 'activity encouraging hostility'.
