A Turkish governor has been sacked after he shared videos and images of himself wearing lycra cycling gear on social media.
Mehmet Fatih Çiçekli was dismissed as the governor of Ardahan province last week without reason following a decree signed by the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Mr Çiçekli was replaced in his role by Ömer Hilmi Yamlı.
Mr Çiçekli had drawn significant criticism from fellow politicians in recent weeks, branding him as “spending all day creating social media content” in recent months and “wearing cycling tights all day.”
İnan Akgün Alp, MP for the Republican People's Party, said: “A governor in leggings? That simply won't do. Such governors should be removed from office – or at least issued a fig leaf.”
He went on to accuse Mr Çiçekli of “abandoning the seriousness and dignity of state office.”
Şamil Tayyar, deputy for the Justice and Development Party, accused Mr Çiçekli of undermining his political status by regularly appearing in cycling wear.
He said: “Neither citizens nor his own civil servants will take a governor in leggings seriously.
Mehmet Fatih Çiçekli has been remove from office over his lycra bike gear
|INSTAGRAM/Mehmet Fatih Çiçekli
“He has no authority.”
Ministers spoke out after images circulated on social media of Mr Çiçekli wearing black cycling tights and a red fitted top as he rode his bike.
Mr Çiçekli worked in civil administration since 2004 and was appointed to the role of governor of Ardahan in January, which he held until his dismissal.
A petition has been launched demanding that he be reinstated.
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Mehmet Fatih Çiçekli has defended himself following his dismissal
|INSTAGRAM/Mehmet Fatih Çiçekli
The petition reads: “The decision to remove Ardahan Governor Mehmet Fatih Çiçekli from his post has caused sadness and concern among many citizens who care about the future of our province.”
It added that it “has no political aims.”
It went on to say that Mr Çiçekli had “accomplished significant work” in sports and youth development, stating: “Sports activities for young people have increased, and young people's habits of participating in sports have been developed.”
Over 10,000 people have already signed the petition.
Mr Çiçekli defended his clothing choices, saying: “The clothes I'm wearing are sports clothes.
“Actually, sometimes you need to forget. Rather than living through titles and labels, it's good to know you're a human being and remain one.
“The things that make you yourself, such as sports, cycling and rowing, aren't bad things. They're things that everyone, at every age, should be doing.”