Erdoğan adviser Oktay Saral steps down after Azerbaijan dress code remarks

Oktay Saral, chief adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has left his post following remarks on a dress code regulation in Azerbaijan’s schools. His departure has also renewed attention on the term “Boşbakan” that he earlier used to refer to Northern Cyprus Prime Minister Ünal Üstel during headscarf debates.

In earlier debates in Northern Cyprus over the Discipline Regulation, Hamitköy imam İbrahim Damar drew criticism with the words “I will not carry the funerals of unionists.” After Üstel launched an investigation into Damar, Saral used the term “Boşbakan” against Üstel in a social media post. No public information has emerged about any official warning Saral received over those remarks at the time.

Journalist Talat Atilla shared a phone conversation he had with Saral. According to Atilla, when asked whether he had been removed from his post, Saral answered “Yes. We are not permanent in positions. Our President appointed me, and I left on his instruction. I have no grudges against anyone.” Saral also said, “What matters is the Republic of Turkey.”