Petro-Dictator Aliyev Challenges Erdogan And His Brand Of Islamic Radicalism

A few days ago, I published an article titled “Is The Slogan Adopted By The Two Turkish Tribes-"One Nation Two States" Dead?” and highlighted Azerbaijan’s concerns about Turkish well orchestrated attempts to introduce its own brand of Islam into a country that considers itself a bastion of secularism.

Azerbaijan’s ruling party, Yeni Azerbaijan Party (YAP), articulated Aliyev’s displeasure with Turkey’s ideological assault by warning that the slogan “One Nation Two States” cannot be exploited to shape Azerbaijan in the image of Turkey’s ruling party-The Justice And Development Party (AKP). YAP officials argued that what is being discussed here is precisely one nation and two independent states. This principle does not, under any circumstances, constitute a basis for one state to interfere in the internal affairs of another state or to impose its political and ideological approach on another state.” 

Aliyev did not waste any time to translate the shot across the bow, fired by the YAP, into a concrete action to reassert his authority, and emphasize the point that he will not be intimidated by Turkey’s size, political influence in the Turkic world, or military clout.

Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared 31 Turkish citizens as "Undesirable Persons," and imposed a ban on their entry to Azerbaijan based on the argument that they have engaged in activities that undermine

“...the sovereignty, national security, constitutional order, people, and leadership of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including calls for the violent overthrow of government, religious radicalism, and the incitement of religious hatred and hostility."

Here is the list of the Turkish citizens affected by the entry ban under the category of “Undesirable Persons”:

Ahmet Barış İyison – Head of İyison Medya and the Gazeteciabi project

Cem Özyurt – Blogger

Akın Duru – Staff member at TV8 and Acunmedya

Dursun Eker – Journalist, File Prodüksiyon Hizmetleri

Adem Özköse – Journalist, political analyst, writer

Muhammed Emin Yıldırım – Istanbul representative for the "Köklü Değişim" magazine and media group

Cüneyt Sezer – Blogger, sociologist, publicist, and political analyst

Serhat Koyuncu – Public figure

Mikail Ayyıldız – Religious writer and researcher

Ahi Aratoğlu – Researcher, writer, poet, and sociologist

Muharrem Çavuş – Head of the AK Party Boğaziçi Youth Branch (2020–2025)

Fatih Erbakan – Chairman of the New Welfare Party (Yeniden Refah Partisi)

Yahya Uğraş – Deputy Chairman of the HÜDA PAR party

Aydın Binboğa – Economist, politician

Hakkı Eren – Journalist for "Köklü Değişim"

Sait Seyitoğlu – Head of the Finance and Administrative Affairs Department for HÜDA PAR in Batman

Mehmet Boynukalın – Professor of Theology at Marmara University,

Imam-Hatip of Hagia Sophia

Okan Aytaş – Journalist, owner of Finansopia Medya

Mert Armağan – Journalist

Yaşar Yavuz – Journalist for Yeni Şafak, Diriliş Postası, and Referans

Ahmet Sırrı Arvas – Poet, journalist, writer

Yusuf Kaplan – Writer, journalist

Erdinc Teğmen – Owner of Erte Medya

Ahmet Çakar – Sports commentator, former football referee

Halil Atakan Ay – Theologian

İsmail Kılıçarslan – TV NET, "Yeni Şafak" newspaper

Murat Şahin – Program host at Akit TV

İrfan Kaya Ülger – Program host at Akit TV

Fatin Dağistanlı – Program host at Akit TV

Ömer Ulutaş – Chairman of the Toprak Party

Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu – MP

Seven Turkish citizens on the list above face also criminal prosecution initiated by Azerbaijan’s Prosecutor General's Office, Under Azerbaijan's criminal law, due to statements and activities calling for the violent change of government in Azerbaijan, incitement of religious hatred, and insult to the president. One accused indicated that “...the legitimacy of the Azerbaijani government is open to debate and had hinted that Aliyev could eventually face the same fate as former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, who was overthrown in 2024.”

“On 19 October, Baku’s Binagadi District Court ordered the pre-trial detention in absentia of all seven suspects. They were subsequently placed on an international wanted list, according to the Prosecutor’s Office.”

How Azerbaijan will convince the Turkish government to extradite the seven accused to face criminal charges in Baku remains a mystery. At the end of the day, to solve the monumental challenge of arresting and transferring the seven accused to Baku, Aliyev may rely on the help of The Mossad to launch an operation similar to the one known as “Operation Finale”— carried out by the Mossad, on May 11, 1960 to kidnap Adolf Eichmann from Argentina, and force him to stand trial in Tel Aviv for crimes committed during WWII.

The Mossad can use the Argentinian script and assist Azerbaijani intelligence operatives to enter Turkey, abduct the seven accused, keep them in a safe house/s, and eventually smuggle them one by one to Baku to stand trial.

We wish Petro-Dictator Aliyev the best of luck in his endeavors to neutralize those who are threatening the very survival of his dynasty, by insisting that he may well face the same destiny that forced another dictator-Bashar al-Assad, to seek refuge in Russia. I am sure his first choice for peaceful and comfortable years of exile will be Israel and not Russia.