Turkey’s President Erdogan has fired a popular regional governor who championed sport after photographs emerged of him wearing ‘inappropriate’ tights on a bicycle
A politician has been sacked after pictures emerged of him wearing tights on his bike – sparking a wave of protests from fellow cyclists.
Mehmet Fatih Cicekli, the governor of Ardahan province in eastern Turkey, was dismissed on July 17 by a presidential decree signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
It came after some Turkish politicians criticised him for wearing cycling tights during a public event promoting the sport, and for posting the photos on social media.
Inan Akgun Alp, a member of the main opposition Republican People’s Party, accused Mr Cicekli of prioritising social media over official duties – and said the tight-fitting clothing was inappropriate for a governor.
He said during a debate on Turkish television last week: “He goes around in tights, spends all day cycling, with bodyguards in front of him, cycling in tights until the evening.
“A governor cannot wander around the city centre like this.”
Samil Tayyar, from Erdogan’s ruling party, said the attire violated cultural norms – particularly in a conservative, traditional province like Ardahan. He argued that other politicians wore jogging bottoms while cycling.
“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”, he later wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Mr Cicekli, who was appointed governor in January by Erdogan, defended himself by arguing that what he wore was normal cycling attire.
He vowed to “keep pedalling” and said: I am an athlete who practices sailing, rowing and cycling. The clothes I’m wearing are sportswear”.
A petition to try and get him reinstated has gathered more than 10,000 signatures, with supporters saying he had played a vital role in promoting sports, youth activities and bicycle tourism.
In an emotional farewell to his supporters in Ardahan on Wednesday, Mr 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 honour of all.”
He was mobbed by supportive local cyclists as he left the province, Halk TV reported.
Nacho Sanchez Amor, a member of the European Parliament from Spain who monitors Turkey in his role as rapporteur, spoke out in support for Mr Cicekli and suggested Mr Alp was promoting the ruling party’s “Islamist conservative agenda.”
