19.03.2025 19:30
Istanbul University announced the reasoned decision for the cancellation of the diploma of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. According to this, it was stated that İmamoğlu registered outside of the quota at Istanbul University and that he carried out the horizontal transfer process under the name of Eastern Mediterranean University instead of the Girne American University where he studied.
```html
The Istanbul University announced the reasoned decision for the cancellation of İBB President Ekrem İmamoğlu's diploma. The university stated that İmamoğlu's diploma was canceled because he registered outside the quota at Istanbul University and that the horizontal transfer process was carried out under the name of Eastern Mediterranean University instead of Girne American University, where he studied.
REASON FOR THE CANCELLATION OF IMAMOGLU'S DIPLOMA
A critical development occurred in the investigation initiated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding allegations that İBB President Ekrem İmamoğlu's bachelor's diploma was fake. Istanbul University canceled the diplomas of 28 individuals, including İmamoğlu.
GRADE AVERAGES NOT ABOVE "2.40"
According to the information received, the reasons for the cancellation of the diplomas of 27 individuals, including İBB President Ekrem İmamoğlu, were revealed in the report prepared by the university. Among the reasons for the cancellation of these individuals' diplomas were that their grade point averages did not exceed "2.40", there was an "FF" grade on their transcripts, and the universities they attended were not found in the records of Istanbul University.
PROFESSOR SAYBAŞILI ALSO DOES NOT MEET HORIZONTAL TRANSFER CONDITIONS
Prof. Dr. Naciye Aylin Ataay Saybaşılı, a faculty member of the Business Department at Galatasaray University, is also among those whose diplomas were canceled. It was determined that during the period Saybaşılı made her horizontal transfer, her father was a lecturer at Istanbul University's Faculty of Business, and she did not meet the general horizontal transfer conditions. It was noted that Mustafa Arıtürk, who is among those whose diplomas were canceled, had his application accepted outside the horizontal transfer period and studied for one semester at a university in England, which was contrary to the horizontal transfer regulations.
It was determined that Melihşah Özcan from Eastern Mediterranean University had a grade point average of "1.78", and Sevgi Toprak from Swiss American College had an average of "1.89". Additionally, it was found that Toprak had one "FF" grade on her transcript. It was also determined that Orhan Kuray, whose diploma was canceled, registered under the name of Eastern Mediterranean University despite studying at Girne American University. Kuray's grade point average was "2.00", and he had one "FF" on his transcript, which led to the cancellation of his diploma.
GRADE AVERAGE OF 0.90
Among the reasons for the cancellation of Ahmet Selim Güner's diploma were a grade point average of "0.90", four "FF" grades on his transcript, and registering under the name of Eastern Mediterranean University despite studying at Girne American University. It was learned that Banu Yalı's diploma had a grade point average of "1.75", and Sinan Esat Erdil's diploma was canceled due to a grade point average of "1.86" and not meeting the horizontal transfer conditions because he only studied for one semester.
Cenk Karayel's diploma was canceled due to a grade point average of "1.87" and one "FF" grade.
It was also determined that Ergün Bargü, who is among those whose diplomas were canceled, had a grade point average of "1.77" and two "FF" grades.
Furthermore, it was learned that all horizontal transfer transactions in the Faculty of Business at Istanbul University between 1987 and 1993 would be examined in detail.
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had launched an investigation for the crime of "forgery in official documents" based on reports of İBB President Ekrem İmamoğlu's bachelor's diploma being fake and findings in the report prepared by the Higher Education Council.
As part of the investigation, İmamoğlu's statement was taken on March 5.
The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, in its initial letter sent to the Istanbul University Rectorship, pointed out that during the relevant period, only Eastern Mediterranean University was recognized among the higher education institutions operating in the TRNC, according to the research report of the Higher Education Council (YÖK).
Considering the correspondence in the report, it was stated that the recognition condition of foreign higher education institutions was sought in horizontal transfer transactions, and therefore it was understood that the horizontal transfer transactions of the University College of Northern Cyprus (UCNC), which was not recognized, were not conducted in accordance with YÖK decisions by the Dean's Office of the Faculty of Business at Istanbul University.
In the Chief Public Prosecutor's letter, it was stated that "it has been determined that the Dean's Office of the Faculty of Business at Istanbul University conducted administrative processes regarding recognition, horizontal transfer quotas, announcement periods, and acceptance of horizontal transfers contrary to YÖK decisions, and that the diploma in question continued to be used (for example, by the Supreme Election Council, etc.), and in order for the business and transactions to be established based on this diploma not to be unlawful, necessary actions should be taken as soon as possible. Considering the legally irreparable consequences that may arise from the use of the diploma in question by the Istanbul University Rectorship, it is necessary to conduct an administrative investigation or, if an administrative investigation is already being conducted, to send the relevant investigation reports to our Chief Public Prosecutor's Office."
The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office requested that all certified copies of the documents related to İBB President İmamoğlu's education at Istanbul University be sent, and asked for the identification of who and which individuals established the processes regarding the acceptance of horizontal transfers on September 12, 1990, and their clear identity information.
In the letter, it was also requested that the response regarding whether similar horizontal transfer transactions were conducted on the dates specified in the report on horizontal transfers be sent to the prosecutor's office urgently.
```