Turkish Governor Sacked Over Cycling Attire Controversy

Mehmet Fatih Cicekli, the former governor of Ardahan province in eastern Turkey, has been relieved of his duties following a controversy over his choice of cycling gear. Cicekli, who is an avid cyclist, was photographed wearing tight lycra shorts during a public event, which sparked widespread criticism from some Turkish politicians. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a presidential decree removing Cicekli from his post, although no official reason was given for the dismissal. However, the timing of the decision suggests that it may be linked to the criticism Cicekli faced for his attire. Inan Akgun Alp, a member of the main opposition Republican People’s Party, accused Cicekli of prioritizing social media over his official duties and described his cycling gear as inappropriate 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. 'A governor cannot wander around the city centre like this.' Samil Tayyar, a former legislator from Erdogan’s ruling party, also weighed in on the issue, arguing that Cicekli’s attire was contrary to cultural norms in a conservative province like Ardahan. Cicekli defended his choice of clothing, stating that it was normal 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. Despite his dismissal, Cicekli has become the focus of a campaign calling for his reinstatement, with over 10,000 people signing a petition in support of the former governor. Nacho Sánchez Amor, a member of the European Parliament from Spain, has also expressed support for Cicekli, suggesting that his dismissal may be linked to the ruling party’s 'Islamist conservative agenda.'