19.03.2025 13:22
A reaction to the detention of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu also came from Ahmet Davutoğlu, the leader of the Future Party. Davutoğlu stated, "The fact that diploma wars are being fought to reach the highest office of the state, the presidency, is the greatest shame, the greatest disgrace, and a scandal for Turkey."
Many people, including Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, were detained as part of two separate investigations into terrorism and organized crimes targeting the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. A reaction to İmamoğlu's detention also came from Ahmet Davutoğlu, the Chairman of the Future Party.
"THE GREATEST SHAME, DISGRACE, AND SCANDAL FOR TURKEY"
Speaking at the New Path group meeting in the Parliament, Davutoğlu stated: "Yesterday, the diploma issue arose. This is a disgrace, and as an academic, I feel ashamed. Istanbul University is one of the oldest institutions in the world, with roots going back to the Fatih Medreses. It is canceling a diploma it issued 31 years ago. Is there a problem with that diploma? Then the primary responsible party is the university. The university should be held accountable by its employees. There is no longer trust in institutions. The President's diploma is being debated, Marmara University has lost trust. The diploma of the Metropolitan Mayor is being debated, Istanbul University has lost trust. If knowledge decays in one place, everything else decays. As a politician, I feel ashamed; because politics has never been this ugly. As a statesman, I feel ashamed; because there has never been a period with such distrust in state institutions. The fact that diploma wars are being fought to reach the highest office of the state, the Presidency, is the greatest shame, the greatest disgrace, and scandal for Turkey. Those who are qualified for that position must prove their qualifications, their merit, their vision, their goals, and their strategies. They should not debate others' diplomas. Just as we were discussing the diploma issue, the news broke, and arrests began."