BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 16. Turkish citizen
and columnist for the newspaper “Şanlıurfa Olay,” Celal Çiftçi, has
been named as a defendant in a criminal case initiated in
connection with calls for a violent seizure of power in Azerbaijan
and incitement to religious hatred. An international arrest warrant
has been issued for him.


This was reported in a statement released by the Prosecutor
General's Office of Azerbaijan.


According to available information, investigations were
conducted based on reports that various individuals, including
Celal Çiftçi, born in 1975, had posted material on social media
aimed at the violent seizure of power, as well as inciting
religious hatred and hostility involving violence.


The Office of the Prosecutor General reported that, following
the adoption of Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 309 of
September 21, 2026, it was determined that materials containing
religiously radical content, aimed at a coup d’état and the violent
seizure of power, the violent alteration of the constitutional
order, and the incitement and propagation of religious hatred and
hostility. It is noted that some of this material was created using
artificial intelligence.







Based on the evidence gathered, on October 16, the Prosecutor
General initiated a criminal case under Articles 281.2, 283.2.1,
and 167-3.1 of the Criminal Code. The Investigative Department of
the Prosecutor General’s Office has been tasked with conducting the
preliminary investigation.


Requests for mutual legal assistance are currently being sent to
the competent authorities of the Republic of Türkiye to carry out
relevant investigative measures concerning him and other
individuals. Other necessary measures are also being taken through
international cooperation mechanisms.


The preliminary investigation continues to examine the above
information, the content of other similar materials, the
circumstances of their production and dissemination, and other
matters relevant to the case in an objective, comprehensive
manner.

The Prosecutor General’s Office called on everyone to help preserve
religious tolerance, mutual respect, and social solidarity by
refraining from sharing content that promotes religious hatred and
hostility, using social media responsibly, and complying with the
law.