9,400 Back Petition to Reinstate Turkish Governor Ousted After Cycling Tights Row
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jul 21
9,400 Back Petition to Reinstate Turkish Governor Ousted After Cycling Tights Row
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jul 21
Summary
More than 9,400 people had signed a Change.org petition by 17:00 BST on July 21 urging Ardahan governor Mehmet Fatih Çiçekli to be restored to office.
Çiçekli was removed by a July 17 decree signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan after criticism of videos showing him cycling in tights and posting sports content on social media.
CHP lawmaker İnan Akgün Alp had accused him of neglecting the dignity of state office and spending his time making online content rather than governing.
Supporters say the petition is non-political and argue Çiçekli boosted sport, youth participation and cycling tourism in Ardahan, a province of fewer than 100,000 people.
Çiçekli has defended the outfit as normal sportswear and, after his dismissal, said he would "keep pedalling."