06.05.2025 14:21
Ekrem İmamoğlu, whose diploma was revoked by Istanbul University on the grounds of "absence" and "open error," has had his diploma information deleted from the university's database. İmamoğlu will now be listed as a high school graduate on the E-Government portal. Meanwhile, his lawyer filed a lawsuit today against the revocation decision.
İstanbul University has decided to revoke the diplomas of 28 individuals, including the dismissed İBB President Ekrem İmamoğlu, on the grounds of "non-existence" and "clear error".
In a statement from the university, it was mentioned that "With the decision number 3 taken at the 61st meeting of our University Management Board on March 18, 2025, based on the findings in the 'Research Report' dated February 17, 2025, with the reference number E-68918934-663.08[2024/519-04-R]-12 from the Higher Education Supervisory Board, and the investigation number 2025/44681 from the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office dated February 24, 2025, it was decided to revoke the horizontal transfer decisions of 10 individuals whose registrations were deleted among the 38 individuals who unlawfully transferred to the English program of our Faculty of Business Administration in 1990, contrary to the decisions of the Higher Education Council and the conditions required by the legislation; to revoke the horizontal transfer decisions of the remaining 28 individuals who graduated, including the person mentioned in the 'Research Report' of the Higher Education Supervisory Board, and the diplomas and degrees obtained by these individuals based on these decisions on the grounds of 'non-existence' and 'clear error'; to continue the investigations and research regarding horizontal transfers made in all faculties of our university and to carry out the necessary actions and processes thereafter. The decision taken and all information and documents supporting this decision will be promptly sent to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and the Higher Education Council."
REMOVED FROM THE DIPLOMA DATABASE
According to a report in Sabah; Istanbul University has deleted the diploma information of former İBB President Ekrem İmamoğlu from the university's database, citing that his horizontal transfer was unlawful. In the graduation inquiry he will make through E-Government, it will now appear that İmamoğlu is only a high school graduate.
HIS LAWYER FILED A LAWSUIT
Hours before the diploma was deleted from the database, İmamoğlu's lawyer Mehmet Pehlivan filed a lawsuit against the revocation of his client's university diploma. Pehlivan 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."
DIPLOMA INVESTIGATION
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had initiated an investigation for the crime of "forgery in official documents" based on reports alleging that İBB President Ekrem İmamoğlu's bachelor's diploma was fake and findings regarding the falsity of his diploma in the report prepared by the Higher Education Council.
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 actions and processes to be established based on İmamoğlu's diploma are not contrary to the law.
It was later stated in a statement made by Istanbul University that it was decided to revoke the diplomas of 28 individuals, including İBB President İmamoğlu, on the grounds of "non-existence" and "clear error".