The legal team of İstanbul’s opposition mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, has denied claims that he falsified his university degree, presenting university transfer records and academic transcripts to support their defense, the ANKA news agency reported Tuesday.
The İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office recently opened an investigation into İmamoğlu over accusations of “falsification of an official document,” following rumors questioning the authenticity of his university diploma.
The investigation into İmamoğlu, who is already facing multiple legal proceedings, began just one day after he submitted his candidacy for the presidency under the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP). He is scheduled to be questioned on February 26, according to a report by the state-run Anadolu news agency.
İmamoğlu’s lawyers, Adem Sözüer, a law professor, and Mehmet Pehlivan, held a press conference at İstanbul city hall on Tuesday, dismissing the allegations as baseless and politically motivated.
Sözüer argued that İmamoğlu’s transfer from Girne American University in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) to İstanbul University in 1990 fully complied with the legal regulations at the time.
“The process abided by all legal requirements, including academic performance criteria. He applied through an official announcement, completed his courses and graduated. What makes this a criminal matter?” Sözüer said.
Pehlivan said the claims first emerged in 2019, suggesting they were politically driven. He outlined the timeline of İmamoğlu’s academic journey, explaining that he enrolled in Girne American University’s business administration program in 1988 before transferring to İstanbul University in 1990.
“At the time, İstanbul University required a minimum GPA of 60 for transfers. İmamoğlu’s GPA was 62.5, which met the standard,” Pehlivan said.
Pehlivan also addressed a report from Turkey’s Higher Education Board (YÖK) that is cited in support of the allegations against İmamoğlu. He clarified that while Girne American University was recognized by YÖK in 1991, its campus in Girne or Kyrenia was not. He argued that this recognition condition for transfers came after İmamoğlu’s transfer and could not retroactively affect the legality of his move.
“The YÖK regulation requiring campus recognition was only introduced in 1996, six years after İmamoğlu’s transfer. Applying it retroactively is legally invalid,” Pehlivan said.
The lawyers criticized the handling of the investigation, questioning the lack of clarity surrounding the accusations. They argued that the prosecution has yet to specify the exact crime İmamoğlu is accused of, especially since there is no dispute over the authenticity of the documents.
Under Turkey’s constitution, presidential candidates must hold a degree in higher education. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has faced similar claims from opponents, which he has denied.
In response to allegations raised by a journalist, the İstanbul Municipality published a photocopy of İmamoğlu’s business management diploma, which he received from İstanbul University in 1995.
İmamoğlu, who first gained control of Turkey’s largest city from Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in 2019 and was re-elected last year, is currently the subject of five other investigations, two of which were opened last month.
Regularly targeted by Erdoğan, who also served as İstanbul mayor, İmamoğlu was sentenced in December 2022 to nearly three years in prison and a political ban for “insulting” members of Turkey’s High Electoral Board. He has appealed the ruling.
A vocal critic of Erdoğan, İmamoğlu last month denounced what he called judicial “harassment” after being questioned by an İstanbul court in another investigation related to his criticism of the city’s public prosecutor.