A senior Turkish provincial governor removed from office following public and political criticism over his choice of cycling attire has found overwhelming support from thousands of citizens pushing for his immediate return to post.
Mehmet Fatih Çiçekli, who held the governorship of Turkey’s northeastern Ardahan province, was officially dismissed from his role via a presidential decree signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on July 17. No official justification for the dismissal has been released to the public, but the move came after weeks of growing backlash from opposition politicians over Çiçekli’s active social media presence and his habit of cycling in form-fitting cycling tights.
The 50-year-old governor, who joined Turkey’s civil service in 2004 and has more than 10 years of experience in local public administration, had used his social media channels in recent months to share clips of his recreational cycling trips across Ardahan. He also promoted a local cycling festival, drew hundreds of residents to group cycling events, and shared footage of recreational rowing on nearby Lake Çıldır, framing outdoor activity as a unifying social force that encourages healthy habits among young people.
Criticism erupted in early July from İnan Akgün Alp, a Member of Parliament from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), who accused Çiçekli of prioritizing social media content creation over his official duties and violating the expected dignity of a state office. Alp argued that cycling tights were inappropriate attire for a governor interacting with citizens, calling on the national government to remove Çiçekli from his post.
In his public defense, Çiçekli pushed back against the criticism, emphasizing that athletic attire is standard for any sports activity. “I do sports in sports clothes,” he stated in response to questions about his outfit. Addressing broader criticism of his public approach to the role, he added that it is important for public officials to remember their shared humanity beyond formal titles, noting that recreational activities like cycling and rowing are healthy pursuits that people of all ages should enjoy. When asked about his plans after dismissal, Çiçekli simply replied: “I will keep pedalling.”
Within 24 hours of the dismissal announcement, supporters launched a public petition on Change.org calling for Çiçekli to be reinstated as Ardahan governor. By 5 PM BST on July 21, the petition had collected more than 9,400 signatures from supporters across Turkey. The petition framing stresses that the campaign has no political alignment, noting that Çiçekli’s removal has left many residents of Ardahan concerned about the province’s future.
Supporters highlight that beyond his recreational activity, Çiçekli delivered tangible progress for the province, expanding youth sports programming, growing local participation in athletic activity, and boosting Ardahan’s emerging cycling tourism sector. With a total population of under 100,000, Ardahan has seen growing interest in outdoor recreation in recent years, and residents argue Çiçekli’s work to promote the sector has benefited the local economy and community wellbeing. The petition concludes by calling for Çiçekli to be allowed to continue his work as the province’s governor.