A governor in Turkey who loved cycling found himself at the center of a political controversy — and out of a job — after photos of him wearing form-fitting cycling shorts spread across social media. Now, a wave of public support is pushing for him to get his position back.
Mehmet Fatih Cicekli, who served as governor of Ardahan province in eastern Turkey, was removed from his post on July 17 through a presidential decree signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. No official reason was provided for the dismissal, but it followed sharp criticism from Turkish politicians who took issue with Cicekli wearing cycling tights at a public event promoting the sport and sharing the images on social media.
Inan Akgun Alp, a member of the main opposition Republican People’s Party, accused Cicekli of putting social media attention ahead of his official responsibilities and said the tight-fitting clothing was unbecoming of someone in his position.
“He goes around in tights, spends all day cycling, with bodyguards in front of him, cycling in tights until the evening,” the T-24 news website quoted Alp as saying during a parliamentary debate last week. “A governor cannot wander around the city center like this.”
Samil Tayyar, a former legislator from Erdogan’s ruling party — which has roots in Turkey’s Islamic movement — argued that the clothing went against cultural expectations, particularly in a conservative province like Ardahan. He noted that other politicians opt for sweatpants when they cycle.
“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 had been appointed to the governor’s role in January by Erdogan, pushed back against the criticism, saying his outfit was simply standard gear for the sport.
“(We will) keep pedaling. I am an athlete who practices sailing, rowing and cycling. The clothes I’m wearing are sportswear,” T-24 quoted him as saying.
Since his removal, a petition calling for his reinstatement has collected more than 10,000 signatures. Supporters say Cicekli was doing meaningful work in Ardahan, including promoting sports, youth programs, and bicycle tourism, according to the opposition-leaning Halk TV.
During an emotional farewell gathering with supporters in Ardahan on Wednesday, Cicekli reflected on his time in office. “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,” he said.
As he departed from Ardahan — a province that shares borders with both Armenia and Georgia — local cyclists rode alongside his vehicle as a gesture of solidarity, Halk TV reported.
Nacho Sánchez Amor, a Spanish member of the European Parliament who serves as the rapporteur on Turkey, voiced support for Cicekli and suggested that Alp was advancing the ruling party’s “Islamist conservative agenda.”
