06.05.2025 12:10
The lawyer of the dismissed Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) President Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mehmet Pehlivan, has filed a lawsuit against the annulment of his client's university diploma. Pehlivan, drawing attention to the date of May 6, stated, "Today, on May 6, 2025, we have filed our lawsuit at the Istanbul Administrative Court for the annulment of this action, which is contrary to all universal legal principles, the Constitution, and administrative law."
The lawyer of the dismissed İBB President Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is detained in Silivri, Mehmet Pehlivan, has filed a lawsuit against the annulment of his client's university diploma.
Pehlivan stated in his announcement, "Today, on May 6, 2025, we have filed our lawsuit at the Istanbul Administrative Court for the annulment of this action, which is contrary to all universal legal principles, the Constitution, and administrative law."
HE POINTED OUT MAY 6
İmamoğlu's lawyer Mehmet Pehlivan, in a statement made on his X (Twitter) account, said, "As is known, May 6 is a symbolic day for those who fought for democracy, law, and full independence ideals in Turkey's history. The unjust and unlawful annulment of Ekrem İmamoğlu's victory in the Istanbul elections in 2019 also occurred on a May 6."
"WE WILL NEVER BOW TO UNLAWFULNESS"
Pehlivan's statement is as follows:
"My client Ekrem İmamoğlu's university diploma, which he obtained lawfully 31 years ago, was annulled on March 18, 2025, in a manner that is clearly contrary to the principles of the rule of law and through the abuse of administrative authority.
Today, on May 6, 2025, we have filed our lawsuit at the Istanbul Administrative Court for the annulment of this action, which is contrary to all universal legal principles, the Constitution, and administrative law.
As is known, May 6 is a symbolic day for those who fought for democracy, law, and full independence ideals in Turkey's history. The unjust and unlawful annulment of Ekrem İmamoğlu's victory in the Istanbul elections in 2019 also occurred on a May 6.
For this reason, we found it meaningful and important to file our lawsuit on May 6, which symbolizes the struggle for democracy, justice, and independence against unlawfulness.
This lawsuit does not only aim to protect Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu's personal rights. It is also a struggle we are conducting to protect the rule of law, the principle of legal security, and fundamental rights and freedoms. We will continue this struggle to the end with our commitment to the rule of law and our trust in an independent judiciary. We will persist in our struggle until justice is served, and we will never bow to unlawfulness.
DIPLOMA INVESTIGATION
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had launched an investigation for "forgery in official documents" based on reports alleging that İBB President Ekrem İmamoğlu's bachelor's diploma was fake and findings in the report prepared by the Higher Education Council regarding the falsity of the diploma.
İmamoğlu had given a statement to the prosecutor's office as part of the investigation.
The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, in a letter sent to Istanbul University regarding the investigation opened against İmamoğlu for the allegation that his university diploma was fake, requested that the necessary actions be taken as soon as possible to ensure that the transactions to be established based on İmamoğlu's diploma are not contrary to the law.
In a later statement made by Istanbul University, it was noted that a decision was made to annul the diplomas of 28 individuals, including İBB President İmamoğlu, on the grounds of "absence" and "clear error."