Istanbul barber recalls long-time leader’s close shaves

Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a coffee person when it comes to hot beverages, is not so keen on bread with his meals and sometimes shaves twice a day.

That is, according to his Istanbul barber Yasar Ayhan, who has known Turkey’s long-time leader for decades.

“He’s a humble man, acting as a normal person,” Mr Ayhan said from his barbershop in Istanbul’s working-class Kasimpasa neighbourhood, where both grew up.

“He mostly likes coffee. He doesn’t really like bread, either,” Mr Ayhan said.

He recalled how, at a meal of fish and bread that he had with Mr Erdogan when he was running for prime minister, “he only ate the fish, while we had an entire bread”.

Mr Ayhan, 57, has been the president’s barber since 1988. This was when Mr Erdogan, now 69, was the Istanbul chairman of the defunct Welfare Party and before he became Istanbul’s mayor, then prime minister and later president. “When he lived in Kasimpasa, we knew he would be something,” Mr Ayhan said.

“We didn’t imagine that he would become a world leader, ruling the country for 20 years.

“He always dressed very well. He was charismatic. The clothes he was wearing – even the prime minister then didn’t have it.

“He was very careful with shaving. He shaved every day, but I know sometimes he did it twice – I did it personally.”

Gone are the days when Mr

Erdogan would come to Mr Ayhan’s barbershop twice a week. After he became prime minister in 2003, traffic would come to a standstill in Kasimpasa when he visited.

But when Mr Erdogan is in Istanbul these days – the presidential residence is in the capital Ankara – and he needs a trim, a car normally comes to collect Mr Ayhan.

“It’s an amazing feeling, to see and touch and shave the man you see on the television 24 hours a day,” said Mr Ayhan. “But after a while I got used to it. He’s a sympathetic, calm, modest guy. He acts like we act. There’s no tension, we joke.”

Inside the shop is a picture of Mr Ayhan and Mr Erdogan. Outside, posters line the roads.

Before Mr Erdogan claimed victory in the run-off election against Kemal Kilicdaroglu yesterday, Mr Ayhan voiced his support. “I am praying for him to be re-elected and I am sure he will win again,” he said.