Azerbaijan Declares 31 Turkish Citizens Persona Non Grata

The Azerbaijani government said the individuals had “made statements against the country’s sovereignty, national security and constitutional order.”

The decision took into account statements made on social networks and internet platforms that “advocated the forcible overthrow of the government or incited violence, religious hatred and hostility based on religious radicalism,” according to the government’s statement.

“Appropriate measures will continue to be taken against calls directed at the Republic of Azerbaijan and activities that incite hostility,” the statement said.

Most of the individuals are politicians and journalists. They include New Welfare Party (YRP) leader Fatih Erbakan.

The decision comes as relations between Ankara and Baku have been tested over differing approaches to ties with Israel and a regulatory change in Azerbaijan that has raised concerns about restrictions on students wearing headscarves in schools.

The new rules covering primary, middle and high schools prohibit additional clothing items that “disrupt the uniformity of school uniforms and are incompatible with the principle of secularism in education.”