Accra:The Prosecutor General's Office has issued an international wanted notice for Celal Çiftçi, a Turkish citizen and columnist for the newspaper Sanliurfa Olay. Çiftçi, born in 1975, is implicated in sharing materials on social media that allegedly promote the forcible seizure of power in Azerbaijan and incite religious hatred and hostility through violence.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the Prosecutor General's Office examined information concerning materials that were disseminated, including AI-generated content, calling for a coup in Azerbaijan and promoting religious radicalism. These actions were identified following Decision No. 309 of the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan dated September 21, 2026.

On October 16, 2026, the Prosecutor General initiated a criminal case against Çiftçi under several articles of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code, including those related to public calls for the forcible seizure of power and incitement to religious hatred. An investigation is underway, and Çiftçi has been formally charged and declared internationally wanted. Azerbaijan is seeking mutual legal assistance from Turkey and other international cooperation mechanisms to investigate further.

The ongoing investigation aims to thoroughly examine the materials and circumstances surrounding their dissemination to reach a legal decision. The Prosecutor General's Office urges the public to avoid sharing content that promotes religious hatred, advocating for religious tolerance and social responsibility.