17.08.2026 10:00
Mehmet Murat Çoruhlu, the Mayor of Karapürçek in Sakarya, is an unconventional mayor. Drawing attention with his turban, robe, and beard, Çoruhlu said, 'I receive appreciation and prayers from those who visit out of curiosity.'
Mehmet Murat Çoruhlu, from the New Welfare Party, who took the mayor's seat in the 2024 local elections in Sakarya's Karapürçek district, presents an unconventional mayor profile with his turban, robe, and beard. Çoruhlu, who received 3,857 votes in the elections and reached a vote rate of 44.96 percent, managed to win the mayoral race by leaving AK Party candidate Ümit Bodur, who remained at 3,807 votes, behind by only a 50-vote difference.
"I RECEIVE PRAYERS FROM THOSE WHO VISIT OUT OF CURIOSITY"
Stating that his appearance does not pose any obstacle to carrying out his duties, Mehmet Murat Çoruhlu made statements to Nefes. Çoruhlu, who stated that citizens curious about him due to his turban and robe come to the municipality, expressed that he warmly hosts visitors in his office. Çoruhlu emphasized that he receives appreciation and prayers from those who visit him out of curiosity, and that they send citizens off after having tea and chatting. Also touching on his financial goals, the mayor announced that they took over the municipality with an annual budget of 35 million liras and aim to increase this figure to 400 million liras by 2027.
WHO IS MEHMET MURAT ÇORUHLU?
Born in 1981 in the Karapürçek district of Sakarya, Mehmet Murat Çoruhlu completed his primary and secondary education at Karapürçek Atatürk Primary School and Karapürçek Atatürk High School. Çoruhlu, who received his undergraduate education at Sakarya University Faculty of Engineering, Civil Engineering Department between 1998 and 2004, fulfilled his military service in Bilecik Center in 2006. Since graduating from university, Mehmet Murat Çoruhlu has been engaged in various commercial activities such as contracting, hazelnut trading, and lumber dealing since 2004, and he is married with two children.