Opposition leaders have criticized the university’s moves as “illegal” and say they have no power to make decisions.
Istanbul University in Turkiye has invalidated the diploma of Mayor Ekrem Imamoguru and cited the misconduct of the Council of Higher Education, threatening the possibility of running in the 2028 presidential election.
The university said Tuesday that 38 people, including the mayor of Istanbul, had irregularly transferred to the Faculty of Business Administration’s English Program in 1990.
Ten of those with irregularities have invalidated the transfer, adding that the extent of 28 graduates, including Imamoguru, will be “retracted and cancelled on the grounds of obvious errors.”
Imamoguru condemned the move as “illegal” and has pledged to fight the decision in court.
“They are [the university] You are not authorized to make such decisions. The authorities are only on the Board of Directors of the Faculty of Business Administration.
“An era in which those who made this decision are held accountable before history and justice are near.
Murat Emir, a member of the Republican People’s Party of Imamogul, said the decision “had a major blow to our democracy.”
Musavat Dervisoglu, the good party chair of the opposition, said the abolition “is not just banishing political rivals.”
2028 election
The ruling came just days before the opposition was expected to select Imamogul as presidential candidate, which could undermine Imamogul’s plan to challenge President Receptacle Tayyip Erdogan in the 2028 election.
Under the Turkish constitution, presidential candidates must obtain a degree in higher education.
Currently in his second term as mayor of Istanbul, Imamoguru is subject to multiple investigations and cases.
The enemy of Erdogan’s voice in January accused what he called “harassment” after leaving Istanbul court for questioning as part of an open investigation into his criticism of city prosecutors.
In 2022, Imamoguru was sentenced to two years and seven months in prison and was banned from political activities due to “shaming” members of Turkiye’s High Election Council.
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