Presidential Adviser Saral Removed from Office Over Azerbaijan Statements

Presidential Adviser Oktay Saral was removed from his position following a social media post criticizing Azerbaijan's headscarf ban; Saral personally confirmed his departure.

Saral posted on his X account on October 13, stating that Azerbaijan's refusal to admit students wearing headscarves to schools was "unacceptable" and wrote, "Such an approach should never be tolerated in this day and age." According to Middle East Eye reporting, three officials and a source knowledgeable about the matter claimed that Azerbaijan's administration had requested Saral's removal from his position to Ankara.

Journalist Talat Atilla stated that he called Saral by phone and relayed the following quote: "Yes. We are not above the positions we hold. The President appointed me, and I left by his instruction. I have no resentment toward anyone." When Atilla asked, "Was it because of your statements on Azerbaijan?" Saral replied, "Yes, it appears so." Following the conversation, Saral also stated: "What matters is the Turkish Republic. What matters is the success of our President."

Journalist Fuat Uğur, known for his proximity to the government, was the first to bring the removal to public attention. Uğur wrote, "I heard that my dear Oktay Saral was removed from office, I was very upset," and emphasized that interstate relations should not be personalized. Uğur also stressed that if Saral was removed because he is part of the state, Turkey might have the right to demand the removal of the head of Azerbaijan's State News Agency.

Azerbaijan, under new regulations covering elementary, middle, and high schools, banned the use of "additional clothing items that disrupt school uniform consistency and are inconsistent with the laicist principle of education"; following this implementation, students and teachers wearing headscarves were not admitted to schools.