Turkish prosecutors have filed a new indictment against Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, alleging that he unlawfully obtained his university diploma more than three decades ago. The charges come amid ongoing legal proceedings against the opposition politician, who is currently in prison.
The İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office accuses İmamoğlu of official document forgery related to a diploma he received from İstanbul University’s Faculty of Business Administration, following a transfer from Girne American University in Northern Cyprus in the early 1990s. Prosecutors claim the transfer was fraudulent and that the resulting degree is therefore invalid.
The indictment seeks a prison sentence of up to eight years and nine months, along with a political ban, which would prevent İmamoğlu from holding public office if convicted.
İmamoğlu, a senior figure in the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and its 2023 presidential nominee, was detained on March 19, one day after İstanbul University annulled his diploma. The university cited “nonexistence” and “obvious error” in its decision and removed his academic records from its system.
His legal team has contested the annulment, stating that official notice of the decision was delivered 55 days later, in what they claim was a breach of administrative procedure. Mehmet Pehlivan, İmamoğlu’s lawyer — who is also currently under arrest — said in May that a lawsuit had been filed to challenge the university’s decision.
This is the second case in which İmamoğlu faces a potential political ban. In 2022, he was sentenced to nearly three years in prison and barred from political office for allegedly insulting Turkey’s Supreme Election Board, a ruling that remains under appeal.
İmamoğlu’s arrest occurred after the March 2024 local elections, in which the CHP retained control of Istanbul and secured victories in other major cities. Since then, a number of CHP mayors and municipal officials have been detained or removed from office as part of broader investigations.
While İmamoğlu’s supporters argue that the legal cases are politically motivated, government officials have not publicly commented on the latest indictment. Authorities maintain that all proceedings are taking place within the bounds of Turkish law.
