Mehmet Fatih Cicekli, the governor of Ardahan province in eastern Turkey, was removed from his post by a presidential decree signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after photos of him wearing tight cycling shorts went viral. The incident has sparked a political maelstrom and a campaign for his reinstatement.
Viral photos lead to dismissal
No official reason was given for Cicekli's dismissal, but it followed criticism from Turkish politicians who deemed the attire inappropriate for a public official. Inan Akgun Alp, a member of the main opposition Republican People's Party, accused Cicekli of prioritizing social media over official duties and said the tight clothing was unsuitable for a governor.
“He goes around in tights, spends all day cycling, with bodyguards in front of him, cycling in tights until the evening,” Alp said during a parliamentary debate, as quoted by the T-24 news website. “A governor cannot wander around the city centre like this.” Alp displayed a photo of Cicekli at a rally and added, “Such governors are unacceptable. Either remove these governors or at least send them fig leaves to wear.”
Cultural norms questioned
Samil Tayyar, a former legislator from Erdogan's ruling party, which has roots in Turkey's Islamic movement, argued that the attire contradicted cultural norms, especially in a conservative province like Ardahan. “People can wear whatever they want in their private lives, but a governor cannot visit the public in tights while on duty; it does not align with the seriousness of the state. In a traditional social setting like Ardahan, it is completely unacceptable,” Tayyar wrote on X.
Cicekli, who was appointed governor in January by Erdogan, defended himself by stating that his clothing was standard cycling attire. “(We will) keep pedaling. I am an athlete who practices sailing, rowing and cycling. The clothes I’m wearing are sportswear,” he said, according to T-24.
Public support and petition
A petition campaign to reinstate Cicekli has gathered more than 10,000 signatures. Supporters argue that the governor was engaged in important work promoting sports, youth activities, and bicycle tourism in Ardahan, as reported by the opposition-leaning Halk TV. In an emotional farewell on Wednesday, Cicekli said, “I believe that I have not let down those who vouched for me and stood by me throughout my journey until now. I believe that this is the greatest honor of all.”
Nacho Sánchez Amor, a member of the European Parliament from Spain who serves as the rapporteur on Turkey, expressed support for Cicekli and suggested that Alp was promoting the ruling party's “Islamist conservative agenda.”
