Çiğli Mayor denies removing Atatürk photograph

Çiğli Mayor Onur Emrah Yıldız has denied allegations that he removed a photograph of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk from his office. The claims surfaced following Yıldız's departure from the CHP to join the AK Party.

In a formal statement, the Çiğli Municipality clarified that a large-scale photograph of Atatürk with his comrades-in-arms remains prominently displayed behind the mayor's desk. The municipality emphasized that Atatürk's images and principles remain central to their service approach and rejected the reports as malicious and intended to fuel political polemics.

Yıldız also addressed the presence of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's portrait in his office, stating it is natural for the head of state's image to be displayed in a service office. The mayor announced that legal proceedings will be initiated against those responsible for spreading what he described as false and defamatory news.