A Turkish religious activist barred from entering Azerbaijan has been detained by Istanbul police over social media posts before being released amid growing tensions between Baku and Ankara. Muhammed Emin Yıldırım, the Istanbul representative of the İslamist media outlet Köklü Değişim Medya, is among 31 Turkish citizens declared undesirable by Azerbaijan. His detention has drawn criticism from religious groups in Turkey, while Islamist politician Fatih Erbakan has accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of yielding to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The developments come amid a dispute over hijab restrictions in Azerbaijani schools and criticism of Baku by Turkish religious figures. Yıldırım, the Istanbul representative of the Turkish media outlet Köklü Değişim Medya, was detained by Istanbul police over social media posts, before being released later that night. Köklü Değişim Medya announced the detention on X on Monday, saying that the case was being followed with the involvement of Yıldırım’s lawyer. Yıldırım was released on Tuesday, according to a subsequent statement from the outlet. In a statement following his release, Yıldırım thanked activists, journalists, and other individuals and organisations for their attention to his detention. ‘The hijab is a commandment of Allah. We will never leave our Azerbaijani sisters who value it alone’, he said, adding that he would continue to defend Muslims and stand with the oppressed against those he described as oppressors. Yıldırım also criticised those who he said prioritised political and commercial interests over responding to injustice and sought to silence people speaking out against it. His detention comes amid heightened tensions between Azerbaijan and Turkey over restrictions on the wearing of hijabs in Azerbaijani schools and Ankara-based religious figures’ criticism of the Azerbaijani government. Explainer | Why are schoolchildren protesting a hijab ban in Azerbaijan? The protests against the hijab ban in schools appear to be some of the largest public demonstrations in years. OC Media Rafig Shahbazov The removal of Oktay Saral from his position as an adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, which came before Yıldırım’s detention, has drawn criticism in Turkey, particularly from religious groups. Many social media users have also described the developments as a political defeat for Erdoğan. Fatih Erbakan, leader of the Islamist New Welfare Party (Yeniden Refah Partisi), criticised Erdoğan in a post on X, questioning his response to Aliyev. ‘Is this what it means for our president, who says “the world is bigger than five” and is seen as a world leader, to bow down to Ilham Aliyev?’ Erbakan wrote, referring to Erdoğan’s regular invocation of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. ‘Yet when Aliyev makes a phone call, everything stops. It does not matter whether it concerns the headscarf, human rights, or freedom of belief. The picture that emerges is that Aliyev speaks and we immediately comply. Do you have the right to make the nation experience this shame?’ Erbakan added. Azerbaijan issues arrest warrants for 7 Turkish nationals, including journalists Baku hasn’t provided evidence for its claims that the individuals called for the state to be violently overthrown. OC Media Rafig Shahbazov Earlier, members of Köklü Değişim had held a protest outside Azerbaijan’s Consulate General in Istanbul against restrictions on the wearing of hijabs in Azerbaijani schools. Azerbaijan has also placed seven Turkish citizens on international wanted lists, in a separate move amid increased tensions between Baku and Ankara. Since Tuesday morning, claims have circulated on social media that members of Köklü Değişim in Turkey have been detained or summoned to police stations to give statements. There has been no official confirmation.