Istanbul’s opposition mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, is facing a new legal challenge as Turkish authorities have launched an investigation into the alleged falsification of his university diploma, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency on Saturday.
Istanbul’s opposition mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu © X
Istanbul’s opposition mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, is facing a new legal challenge as Turkish authorities have launched an investigation into the alleged falsification of his university diploma, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency on Saturday.
This latest probe adds to the five other judicial cases already targeting Imamoglu, a leading figure of Turkey’s opposition. The mayor, who officially submitted his candidacy on Friday to represent the Republican People's Party (CHP, social-democratic) in the upcoming presidential election, is set to be questioned on February 26 regarding the forgery of an official document, Anadolu reported.
The issue is significant because the Turkish Constitution requires all presidential candidates to hold a higher education diploma. Ironically, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan himself has long faced accusations from critics regarding the authenticity of his university degree, an allegation he firmly denies.
In response to similar claims from a journalist, the Istanbul Municipality published a photocopy of Imamoglu’s business administration degree from Istanbul University, issued in 1995, in September 2024.
Imamoglu, who won re-election last year after first taking control of Istanbul in 2019, ended the long-standing dominance of Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Turkey’s largest city.
His political ascent has made him a key target of the ruling party, leading to multiple legal proceedings against him. Two of the five ongoing cases were launched in January.
In December 2022, Imamoglu was sentenced to two years and seven months in prison, along with a political ban, for allegedly insulting members of Turkey’s Supreme Electoral Council. The mayor has appealed this verdict.
Imamoglu Denounces Political Persecution
A fierce critic of President Erdogan, Imamoglu has repeatedly condemned what he describes as judicial harassment. In late January, after appearing before an Istanbul court in another case—this time over his criticism of the city’s chief prosecutor—he again denounced the legal pressure exerted on him.
With Turkey heading into a crucial election period, Imamoglu's legal battles underscore the tense political climate in which opposition figures continue to face scrutiny from authorities.
By Noti Silham
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