Azerbaijan on Wednesday barred 31 Turkish nationals from entering the country, escalating a rare dispute between the close allies over restrictions on Islamic headscarves in schools, Agence France-Presse reported via Turkish Minute. Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry said those barred had used social media and other online platforms to make statements “targeting the sovereignty, national security, constitutional order, people and leadership of the Republic of Azerbaijan,” and accused them of calling for the violent overthrow of the government and inciting religious hatred. The ministry did not cite specific posts or detail the allegations against individuals, Turkish Minute reported.

Turkey Unfolding, reporting the same Foreign Ministry statement independently, said the 31 were declared “undesirable persons” under Azerbaijani law and banned from the country's territory, and that the ministry warned further measures would follow. The list includes Fatih Erbakan, leader of Turkey's New Welfare Party; Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu, a lawmaker from the Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party; and Yahya Oğraş, deputy chair of the Free Cause Party (HÜDA-PAR), both outlets reported. Journalists Yusuf Kaplan and İsmail Kılıçarslan, former Hagia Sophia imam Mehmet Boynukalın, and former football referee and television commentator Ahmet Çakar are also named, Turkey Unfolding reported.

The dispute began after Azerbaijan introduced new school dress regulations on September 21. The rules do not explicitly mention headscarves, but reports of girls and teachers wearing headscarves being denied entry to schools triggered protests in Azerbaijan and criticism from Turkish political figures, both outlets reported. The entry bans follow a separate announcement on October 19 that seven people in Turkey had been charged and placed on an international wanted list over posts and protest speeches, Turkey Unfolding reported, and an earlier Azerbaijani announcement that Turkish columnist Celal Çiftçi had been charged, Turkish Minute reported. Turkish presidential adviser Oktay Saral has criticised the headscarf restrictions, prompting President Ilham Aliyev's ruling party to accuse Turkish figures of meddling in Azerbaijan's domestic affairs, Turkish Minute reported. Turkey and Azerbaijan describe their relationship as “one nation, two states.” Sources: Agence France-Presse via Turkish Minute (Oct 21, 2026); Turkey Unfolding reporting Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry statement (Oct 21, 2026).