Get ready with me - for jail
Approximately 60 TikTokers have been detained and summoned by Azerbaijan's Ministry of Internal Affairs for allegations of posting ”immoral” content. Anar Gafarov, the Ministry's spokesperson, stated that the country's authorities have been taking action against dozens of Tiktok users for content that, as per the government, was disturbing Azerbaijan's ”public morality” and was ”unethical.” While some of the detainees received a fine, others were arrested for what Gafarov called an ”open disrespect for society and behaviour contrary to moral values.”
Some detainees have huge audiences on TikTok and engage with millions of Azerbaijanis. For instance, Samir Ramazanov, posting under the username Semka, has two million followers and even has curiously pin-posted three TikToks praising the Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev and his father, Azerbaijan's former president Heydar Aliyev, which did not shield him from the punishment.
Among the detainees were content creators known for posting about social issues and raising charity money. Rovshan Suleymanov, for example, often talks about relationships and sexuality on TikTok, while Jasarat Javadov, detained for 30 days, has raised money for the underprivileged.