Turkish school annuls diploma of Erdogan rival in blow to opposition
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Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), is the main political rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
PHOTO: AFP
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ANKARA - Istanbul University said on March 18 it annulled the diploma of Recep Tayyip Erdogan's main political rival over irregularities, in a blow to the opposition days before it was set to pick him as its presidential candidate in the next elections.
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), said the school's decision about his diploma - which is needed for a presidential run - was illegal and outside its jurisdiction.
The move comes amid a widening legal crackdown on opposition figures, particularly Mr Imamoglu. It follows numerous indictments against the mayor and the appointment of several government trustees to opposition-held municipal positions.
In a statement, the university said 38 people, including Imamoglu, had transferred universities in 1990 to its Management Faculty's English-language programme in an irregular way. Ten had their transfers annulled, it said.
The graduations and diplomas of the 28 other people were annulled for being "void" and over "clear errors" regarding the regulations of the Higher Education Board (YOK), the school said, adding it would examine on all past transfers.
Mr Imamoglu, a two-term mayor of Turkey's largest city, said in response: "The days when those who made this decision will be held to account in front of history and justice are near. The march of our people, who have been starved of justice, law, and democracy, will not stop," he said on X.
Last week, a lawyer for Mr Imamoglu had told Reuters that there were no irregularities with the mayor's diploma and that he was not expecting an "illegal" ruling by the university.
The school had previously ruled that the diploma was legal, the lawyer added.
The CHP and opposition IYI Party both slammed the move.
"The annulment of Mr Imamoglu's diploma is beyond purging a political rival," IYI chairman Musavat Dervisoglu said on X.
CHP chairman Ozgur Ozel said the decision was a "dark smear" and that his party would name Mr Imamoglu as its presidential candidate on March 23.
Mr Imamoglu, long been as a challenger to Mr Erdogan, has ramped up his criticism of the president and his government in recent months and put forth his candidacy to run for president in the next elections, set for 2028.
If the university's decision is upheld, Mr Imamoglu will not be able to run for president due to a university degree requirement by law. REUTERS
