"Statement on 'diploma' from İmamoğlu's lawyer"

05.03.2025 22:40

The lawyer of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mehmet Pevlivan, made a statement regarding İmamoğlu's diploma, saying, "It seems that the legal debate about the diploma—which should not actually exist—will revolve around the concept of 'recognition'."

Here is the translated HTML content with the text and the `title` and `alt` attributes of the `img` tags translated into English:



```html

Mehmet Pevlivan, the lawyer of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, made a statement on social media regarding İmamoğlu's diploma.

Pevlivan expressed the following in his statement:

"THE LEGAL DISPUTE REGARDING THE DIPLOMA -WHICH SHOULD NOT EXIST- WILL BE SHAPED AROUND THE CONCEPT OF 'RECOGNITION'"

"The basis of the investigation regarding the 'diploma' of Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu is a research report prepared by the Higher Education Supervisory Board. Although the report determined that Mr. İmamoğlu met the criteria valid in 1990 when he made a horizontal transfer, it claimed that the American University of Kyrenia, where the horizontal transfer was made, was recognized by YÖK in 1993, and therefore the horizontal transfer process that took place in 1990 was irregular. It seems that the legal dispute regarding the diploma -which should not exist- will be shaped around the concept of 'recognition.'

"WE REQUESTED SCIENTIFIC OPINIONS FROM MANY LEADING ACADEMICS IN ADMINISTRATIVE LAW"

We have arguments and evidence that we shared with the public in this discussion. However, in order to clarify what the issue is from the perspective of independent and impartial scientific teachings, we requested scientific opinions from many leading academics in the field of administrative law. I am sharing the scientific opinion prepared by our dear professors, Prof. Dr. Metin Günday, Assoc. Dr. Çiğdem Sever, and Assoc. Dr. Ayhan Tekinsoy with you. It is gratifying that the defense we developed as Mr. İmamoğlu's lawyers is parallel to the views of our esteemed professors. The important points that caught my attention in the scientific opinion are as follows:

It is necessary to apply the provisions of the Regulation dated 21/10/1982 in the horizontal transfer processes carried out in 1990, the Higher Education Council did not have the authority to make a decision regarding recognition or non-recognition in terms of horizontal transfer processes in 1990, there was no determination or general or special decision by the Higher Education Council regarding the non-recognition of the American University of Kyrenia at the time the horizontal transfer processes were established, decisions taken by the Higher Education Council regarding non-recognition after the completion of horizontal transfer processes cannot have retroactive effect, and the diplomas obtained by individuals who gained student status after the horizontal transfer processes established in accordance with the law constitute acquired rights, and any action taken by the administration that would result in the diplomas being declared invalid would be clearly contrary to the law."

WHAT HAPPENED?

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had launched an investigation for "forgery in official documents" based on reports 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 his diploma.

The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, in a letter sent to Istanbul University within the scope of the investigation opened against İmamoğlu on the grounds 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.

"THOSE WHO SHOULD GIVE TESTIMONY ARE THOSE WHO PREPARED THAT REPORT"

İmamoğlu went to the Istanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan today to give a statement in the Organized Crimes Investigation Bureau as part of the investigation. It was learned that İmamoğlu stated in his testimony, "Those who should give testimony here today are those who prepared that report. Accusing me with baseless claims is a serious injustice to both the rule of law and the democratic will of the people."