31.07.2025 19:55
Kayseri Governor Gökmen Çiçek responded to CHP Kayseri Deputy Aşkın Genç, who reacted to the visit of the İsmaili Community. In his response on social media, Çiçek stated, "The accusation made against a person in a representative position of the state based on clothing and appearance fuels polarization in society and casts a shadow on the will we represent."
Kayseri Governor Gökmen Çiçek responded to CHP Kayseri Deputy Aşkın Genç by saying, "The accusation made against a person sitting in a representative position of the state based on clothing and appearance fuels polarization in society and casts a shadow on the will we represent."
A sharp polemic occurred between Kayseri Governor Gökmen Çiçek and CHP Kayseri Deputy Aşkın Genç. The polemic began when Genç reacted to Governor Çiçek hosting members of the İsmailağa Community.
"THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE MUST BE AT AN EQUAL DISTANCE TO EVERYONE"
In his post, Genç stated, "In a secular rule of law, the governor's office is not a place where communities seek legitimacy, but a neutral management center that stands at an equal distance from citizens. We have argued that the state should be governed not by religious structures, but by law, reason, and science, and we will continue to advocate for this."
As the party of liberation and establishment, we will not sacrifice secularism, which is the fundamental principle of our Republic, the future of our children, the public nature of education, and our democracy to daily political calculations," he expressed.
GENÇ RECEIVES A RESPONSE FROM GOVERNOR ÇİÇEK
The response to Genç was swift. Governor Çiçek wrote the following in a post on his social media account: "It is incompatible with the principles of a rule of law and public morality for a public servant responsible for increasing each citizen's trust in the state and sense of belonging to classify people based on their opinions, appearance, beard, beliefs, or affiliations."
We are carrying out a duty guided by an understanding of the state that does not divide, embraces, or alienates, listening equally to people from all walks of life and focusing solely on public service.
Positions exist not to discriminate among citizens, but to be concerned with everyone's troubles, to stand by the victim, and to be a refuge for the oppressed. With this understanding, all our citizens, regardless of which association they belong to, which views they hold, or what clothing they wear, are guests of this office.
The accusation made against a person sitting in a representative position of the state based on clothing and appearance fuels polarization in society and casts a shadow on the will we represent."