Tue Mar 18 19:00:18 UTC 2025: ## Istanbul University Annuls Mayor Imamoglu’s Degree, Sparking Political Fury
**ISTANBUL, TURKEY** – Istanbul University has annulled the degree of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a prominent opposition figure, citing irregularities in his 1990 transfer to the university’s English-language Management program. The move, announced Tuesday, threatens Imamoglu’s eligibility to run for president in 2028, as a university degree is a constitutional requirement.
The university stated that 38 students, including Imamoglu, were involved in an irregular transfer, and that the degrees of 28, including the mayor’s, would be revoked. Imamoglu vehemently denounced the decision as “unlawful,” arguing that the university lacks the authority to annul his degree and vowing to challenge the decision in court. He stated that only the Board of Directors of the Faculty of Business Administration possesses such authority.
Opposition parties have condemned the move as a politically motivated attack aimed at hindering Imamoglu’s presidential ambitions. Murat Emir, a lawmaker from Imamoglu’s Republican People’s Party, called it a “heavy blow to our democracy,” while Musavat Dervisoglu, chairman of the Good Party, described it as going “beyond purging a political rival.” The timing of the annulment, days before the opposition was expected to formally nominate Imamoglu as their presidential candidate, further fuels these accusations.
Imamoglu, a vocal critic of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is already facing multiple investigations and legal challenges. A previous conviction for “insulting” members of the High Election Council resulted in a jail sentence and political ban, a decision Imamoglu is appealing. This latest development adds another layer of complexity to his political career and the upcoming 2028 elections.
First Piper 