Turkiye’s Istanbul University annuls Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu’s diploma

Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu’s diploma was canceled by Turkiye’s Istanbul University due to irregularities with the Council of Higher Education’s rules, which are putting his chances of winning the 2028 presidential election in jeopardy.

The Istanbul mayor and 38 others, according to the university, had unrequitedly transferred to the Management Faculty’s English-language program in 1990.

The transfer of 10 of the irregularities, including Imamoglu, will be canceled, and the degrees of 28 graduates, including Imamoglu, will be withdrawn and canceled on the grounds of “obvious error,” it added.

Imamoglu criticized the action as “unlawful” and promised to fight the decision in court.

The university does not have the authority to make such a choice, according to the statement. The Faculty of Business Administration’s Board of Directors is the only body with authority.

The days are approaching when those responsible for this choice will be held accountable. Our country’s thirst for justice, law, and democracy cannot be stopped.

The decision, according to Imamoglu’s Republican People’s Party lawmaker Murat Emir, “a severe blow to our democracy.”

The Good Party chairman of the opposition, Musavat Dervisoglu, claimed that the annulment went beyond purging a political rival.

2028 election

The ruling could hurt Imamoglu’s plans to challenge President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the 2028 election and came days before the opposition was expected to select Imamoglu as its presidential candidate.

Presidential candidates must have a degree from a higher education, according to the Turkish Constitution.

Imamoglu, who is currently serving as Istanbul’s mayor for two terms, has been the subject of numerous investigations and cases.

After leaving an Istanbul court for questioning as part of an ongoing investigation into his criticism of the city’s public prosecutor, Erdogan’s vocal opponent in January criticized what he called “harassment.”