08.12.2025 15:20
The third hearing in the diploma case of the arrested and dismissed Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was held. Tension arose between İmamoğlu and the court judge during the defense. While announcing its interim decision, the court postponed the hearing to February 16, awaiting the decision of the administrative court. Reacting to the decision, İmamoğlu said, "You have no intention of a fair trial, it's a shame for all of you. It's a shame for all of you."
Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was removed from his position as the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB), appeared before a judge for the third time facing a prison sentence of 2 years and 6 months to 8 years and 9 months on the charge of 'forgery in official documents' related to the allegation that his diploma is fake.
The hearing was held in the courtroom located in the Silivri Marmara Closed Penal Institution due to the inadequacy of the 59th Criminal Court of First Instance in the Istanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan.
JUDGE RESPONDS HARSHLY TO APPLAUSE
Instead of the judge Ali Doğan, who was assigned to the case, the hearing is being presided over by judicial judge Sinan Erdemli, who was previously a member of the Istanbul 11th Heavy Criminal Court. Around 11:26, İmamoğlu was brought into the courtroom amidst applause. The presiding judge issued a stern warning in response to the applause.
"I HOPE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO YOU"
İmamoğlu reminded that there have been 12 changes in the panel in the cases opened against him so far, stating that this situation puts both him and the judge in a difficult position. Turning to the judge, he said, "I hope this doesn't happen to you."
"IF WE CAN PROVE MY DOCUMENTS ARE REAL."
Emphasizing that his diploma is not fake, İmamoğlu directed the following question to the judge: "If we can prove that all my documents are real, will you be able to make an independent decision?"
"JUST CHANGING JUDGES AND PROSECUTORS DOES NOT PROVIDE JUSTICE"
Describing the case as a "setup," İmamoğlu stated that his diploma is "spotless," that he does not accept the accusations against him, that he refuses to be tried based on his 19-year-old self, and that he will fight for his rights until the end.
"WAS YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION BAD AT THAT TIME?"
While continuing to speak about the case, İmamoğlu used the words, "There are four sides to this absurd case: 19-year-old me..." The presiding judge intervened and asked a striking question: "I will ask something about 19-year-old Ekrem. You wrote to Istanbul University regarding your financial situation during the transition period. Was your financial situation bad at that time?"
"DID YOU WONDER ABOUT THIS, JUDGE?"
Surprised by this question, İmamoğlu replied, "Is this what affected you the most in the case, Judge? You made a very poor entrance. I hope there is no prejudice, but this should not have been your first question. My advice to you is to think carefully before asking questions."
"SOMEONE MIGHT ACT DISHONESTLY."
İmamoğlu, showing the official documents related to his university education in large printouts, stated that all the documents are with him. "As you can see, all my documents are with me and they have all been recorded step by step. Good thing I kept them. I probably kept them because someone might act dishonestly based on this tomorrow," he said.
Turning to the judge, he said, "You are also a university graduate; you know the diploma is real," and asked the presiding judge, "Which university?" When the judge said he graduated from Istanbul University, İmamoğlu smiled and replied, "How nice, I am also protecting your rights."
"THE PROSECUTOR WHO WROTE THIS IS GETTING PROMOTED"
İmamoğlu, stating, "All my documents are real, everything about me is real," showed the letter from the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the diploma investigation to the court and pointed out that a university diploma was requested for his presidential candidacy. İmamoğlu also reacted to the fact that prosecutors are getting promoted during this process, saying, "The prosecutor who wrote this is getting promoted. They should give wisdom to those who promote and those who are promoted. This case is being politicized not only through the judiciary but also through academic institutions."
"STATE UNIVERSITIES CANNOT ACT ON ORDERS"
Criticizing the statements of Istanbul University Rector Osman Bülent Zülfikar regarding the cancellation of the diploma, İmamoğlu said, "This poor rector has come out and is talking to the pro-government media. A storyteller, a fairy tale rector. The rector who couldn't even let a photographer into his office when I visited... The rector who said he was in a difficult situation when I called him a few days before the cancellation... He is trying to clear himself by talking to pro-government newspapers. A state university cannot act on orders."
"IF NECESSARY, YOU CAN BE QUESTIONED, JUDGE"
İmamoğlu stated that the prosecutor filled the gaps in the indictment with stories and mind-reading, providing examples. In his remarks about the indictment, he told the judge, "A 19-year-old person cannot commit forgery. Do you think it is possible, Judge?" The judge replied, "I am not the one being questioned here; you are." İmamoğlu responded, "If necessary, you can be questioned, Judge." When the judge asked, "What do you mean?" İmamoğlu said, "If you ask insinuating questions, you will get such answers."
DISPUTE WITH THE JUDGE OVER 'POVERTY'
While the judge was asking questions, İmamoğlu reacted by saying, "Cancel my military service too. I don't have a birth certificate; you can cancel that too, maybe. Thank God my family is here." Then the judge reminded İmamoğlu of the statements regarding his financial situation in his petition during the transition to Istanbul University and asked, "Were you poor at that time?" İmamoğlu replied that he did not experience poverty but might have had small cash shortages or commercial problems during those years, stating, "Thank God we were not poor. I wish you had said a couple of things about the change of the court panel as much as you focused on the issue of poverty."
INTERIM DECISION ANNOUNCED
İmamoğlu's diploma case has been postponed to February 16, while the decision of the administrative court will be awaited. Reacting to the interim decision, İmamoğlu said, "You have no intention of proceeding with the trial; it is a shame for all of you. It is a shame for all of you."
His mother, wife, and the audience in the hall also protested the decision by banging on the benches.
THE PROCESS OF CANCELLING THE DIPLOMA
A complaint was made to CİMER on September 18, 2024, regarding the allegation that Ekrem İmamoğlu's diploma is fake. Following this notification, a complaint petition was submitted to the prosecutor's office on October 1, 2024.
After the said complaint, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office initiated an investigation in February regarding the allegations and news that İmamoğlu's bachelor's diploma from Istanbul University Faculty of Business Administration, which he received in 1994, is fake.
The investigation was initiated on the charge of forgery in official documents, and an official letter was sent to Istanbul University on February 24, 2025.
On March 5, 2025, İmamoğlu's statement was taken, and Istanbul University announced that it was examining the issue in cooperation with the Higher Education Council (YÖK) and the prosecutor's office.
On March 18, 2025, during the 61st meeting of the Istanbul University Administrative Board, it was decided to cancel the diplomas of 28 people, including İmamoğlu, on the grounds of absence and obvious error.
The university announced that a total of 38 people's horizontal transfers were examined, 10 people's registrations were deleted, and 28 people's diplomas were canceled.
On July 8, 2025, following this development, the 59th Criminal Court of First Instance in Istanbul accepted the indictment against İmamoğlu, who will be tried for the charge of forgery in official documents.
After the acceptance of the indictment, the 5th Administrative Court of Istanbul rejected İmamoğlu's request for a stay of execution at the end of July.
İmamoğlu's diploma information was deleted from the database of Istanbul University on August 5 and became invisible in the e-Government system as well.
WHAT DOES THE DIPLOMA INDICTMENT CONTAIN?
In the indictment accepted on July 8, 2025, following the investigation, it was stated that İmamoğlu participated in the crime of "forgery in official documents" and that he "fraudulently submitted the documents he obtained for the purpose of a master's degree to Istanbul University, for military service to the Ministry of National Defense, and to the Supreme Election Council (YSK)."
It was claimed in the indictment that, for this reason, the crime of "forgery in official documents" was committed in a chain-like manner.
In the indictment, where it was requested that İmamoğlu be sentenced to imprisonment ranging from 2 years and 6 months to 8 years and 9 months for the crime of "chain-like forgery in official documents," it was also requested that if he is convicted of the "intentional crime" he committed, a decision be made to deprive him of certain rights.
IT MAY AFFECT HIS CANDIDACY FOR PRESIDENT
If İmamoğlu is sentenced to imprisonment, the outcome of the case is critical since the condition of being a university graduate is required to be a presidential candidate.
Ekrem İmamoğlu, the sole candidate in the primary election held by the CHP on March 23, was declared the party's presidential candidate.