Columnist for 'Sanliurfa Olay' newspaper placed on international wanted list over calls for religious hatred in Azerbaijan
A criminal case has been launched in Azerbaijan regarding calls for the violent seizure of power, the forcible alteration of the constitutional order, and the incitement of religious hatred and enmity.
The Prosecutor General's Office informed Operativ Media about this.
An investigation was conducted based on information received by the Prosecutor General's Office regarding the sharing of materials on social media by various individuals, including Turkish citizen Celal Ciftci, born in 1975, a columnist for the "Sanliurfa Olay" newspaper, aimed at the violent seizure of power in Azerbaijan and the incitement of religious hatred and enmity through violence.
The investigation established that following Decision No. 309 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated September 21, 2026, materials containing religious radicalism—including content generated using artificial intelligence—were repeatedly distributed to promote a coup, the violent seizure of power, forcible alteration of the constitutional order, and the incitement of religious hatred and enmity through violence, alongside repeated calls under various radical headlines.
Based on the collected evidence, the Prosecutor General initiated a criminal case on October 16, 2026, under Articles 281.2 (repeated public calls for the violent seizure of power or forcible change of the constitutional order in the Republic of Azerbaijan), 283.2.1 (incitement of religious hatred and enmity using violence on the grounds of religious hostility, radicalism, and fanaticism), and 167-3.1 (manufacture, storage, and dissemination of materials calling for, justifying, or arguing the necessity of religious extremist activity) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The preliminary investigation was assigned to the Investigation Department of the Prosecutor General's Office.
Celal Ciftci was charged in the criminal case and placed on an international wanted list. Requests for international legal assistance are currently being sent to the competent authorities of the Republic of Türkiye to carry out necessary investigative actions concerning him and other individuals, alongside other required measures within international cooperation mechanisms.
Necessary investigative actions are ongoing within the preliminary probe to ensure an objective, full, and comprehensive examination of the content, creation, and dissemination of the aforementioned information and other similar materials, as well as other relevant circumstances, to legally evaluate these actions and render a decision in compliance with the law.
To preserve religious tolerance, mutual respect, and social solidarity, the Prosecutor General's Office urges everyone to refrain from spreading content that incites religious hatred and hostility, to use social networks responsibly, and to comply with legal requirements.
