05.03.2025 11:00
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) President Ekrem İmamoğlu gave a statement regarding the investigation opened for the crime of "forgery of official documents" based on the allegation that his university diploma is fake. In his statement, it was learned that İmamoğlu said, "Those who should be giving statements here today are the ones 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."
The Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM), Ekrem İmamoğlu, gave a statement as part of the investigation launched regarding the allegation that his university diploma is fake, under the charge of "forgery of official documents."
THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES
The investigation initiated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office continues based on reports of İmamoğlu's bachelor's diploma being fake and findings in the report prepared by the Council of Higher Education regarding the falsity of the diploma.
GAVE A STATEMENT AND LEFT THE COURT
As part of the investigation, İmamoğlu arrived at the Istanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan to give a statement. After giving his statement at the Organized Crimes Investigation Bureau, İmamoğlu left the courthouse.
"DOCUMENTS WERE HIDDEN, LAWS WERE IGNORED"
According to information provided by Altan Sancar from Sözcü newspaper, İmamoğlu stated in his testimony, "Those who should be giving statements here today are those who prepared that report. A report has been prepared in which the truths are distorted, documents are hidden, laws and regulations are ignored, and even the laws of today are attempted to be applied retroactively to 35 years ago, and based on this report, accusations have been directed against me."
"A SERIOUS INJUSTICE TO THE DEMOCRATIC WILL OF THE PEOPLE"
It has been learned that he said, "To accuse a mayor who has solidified his democratic legitimacy with four election victories and the will of a city of 16 million; to accuse a citizen who has not taken anyone's rights nor allowed his own rights to be taken, with baseless and legally unfounded allegations, is a serious injustice to both the rule of law and the democratic will of the people."
STATEMENT FROM ISTANBUL UNIVERSITY
Istanbul University announced that the investigation letter from the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and the letters from the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) regarding the allegation that IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu's university diploma is fake have reached the university. In the statement made by the university, it was said, "The letter from the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office dated February 24, 2025, with investigation number 2025/44681, and the letter from the Council of Higher Education dated February 27, 2025, titled 'Investigation File' have reached our University. In this context, necessary examinations and procedures will be established within our University based on the letter from the Council of Higher Education, the letter from the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, and the findings in the 'Research Report' dated February 17, 2025, from the Higher Education Supervisory Board, and the results will be communicated to the relevant institutions and the public."
INVESTIGATION
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had launched an investigation under the charge of "forgery of official documents" based on reports alleging that IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu's bachelor's diploma is fake and findings in the report prepared by the Council of Higher Education regarding the falsity of the diploma.
İmamoğlu had been invited to the prosecutor's office to give his statement as part of the investigation. The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, in the letter sent to Istanbul University regarding the investigation launched against İmamoğlu under the allegation that his university diploma is fake, requested that necessary actions be taken as soon as possible to ensure that the operations to be established based on İmamoğlu's diploma are not contrary to the law.