Turkish governor is sacked after wearing Lycra cycling shorts in social media posts that ‘abandoned the dignity of office’
A Turkish governor who shared videos and photos of himself wearing lycra on social media was dismissed.
Ardahan Governor Mehmet Fatih Çiçekli was dismissed without justification on July 17, with the decree signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and was replaced by Ömer Hilmi Yamlı.
In recent months, Çiçekli had been subjected to criticism from his fellow politicians, who scolded him for ‘spending all day creating social media content’ and ‘wearing cycling tights all day’.
Republican People’s Party Deputy İnan Akgün Alp said: ‘A governor in tights? This definitely won’t work. ‘Such governors need to be removed or at least given a fig leaf.’
He accused Çiçekli of ‘abandoning the seriousness and dignity of his public duty’.
Justice and Development Party Deputy Şamil Tayyar accused Çiçekli of undermining his status as a politician by frequently appearing in cycling clothes: ‘Neither citizens nor his own officials will take a governor in tights seriously,’ he said and added: ‘He has no authority.’
Governor Çiçekli entered the civil administration in 2004 and was appointed as the Governor of Ardahan in January. He held that position until he was dismissed last week.
However, now a signature campaign has been launched to demand his reinstatement.
Mehmet Fatih Çiçekli (pictured) who shared his lycra photos was fired
A signature campaign has been launched for his reinstatement.
Ardahan District Governorate Çiçekli defended himself by saying, ‘I do sports in sports clothes.’
In the petition, it was stated that “The decision to dismiss Ardahan Governor Mehmet Fatih Çiçekli has caused sadness and anxiety in many citizens who care about the future of our city” and stated that the decision “does not have a political purpose”.
Stating that Çiçekli, who is interested in cycling, ‘has undertaken important work’ in the field of sports and youth development, the organization noted: ‘Sports activities for young people have increased, and young people’s habits of participating in sports have improved.’
The petition has already collected 10,000 signatures.
Çiçekli later defended her outfit as follows: ‘The clothes I wear are sports clothes.’
He added: ‘Actually, sometimes it is necessary to forget. It’s nice to know that you are and remain human, rather than living by titles and labels.
‘Things that make you yourself, such as doing sports, cycling, rowing, are not bad things. These are things everyone should do, at every age.’
