Breaking News: Interim ruling in İmamoğlu's diploma case! 'Your judgeship is worthless'

The trial of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor and CHP presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu regarding his diploma continues.

The hearing is being held in the courtroom at Silivri Prison. While the high level of attendance was notable, the fact that the session was held in courtroom number 2 on the -2nd floor instead of the largest hall sparked controversy. The same courtroom had previously hosted the trial of Fatih Altaylı.

İmamoğlu entered the courtroom around 11:30 AM. It was observed that the attendees stood up the moment he stepped into the room. Applause erupted, and chants of 'Mayor Ekrem' were heard. The judge issued a warning against taking any photos at that moment. Upon this, Ekrem İmamoğlu stated, 'It is good to be seen, your honor, it is bad not to be seen.'

According to Cumhuriyet, the judge asked for İmamoğlu's opinion regarding the research report on the cancelled diploma.

İmamoğlu said the following:

'The diploma investigation was turned into a political case once I announced my presidential candidacy. This is a struggle to sideline an opponent. The case must be listened to and perceived with this in mind.'

Speaking about the change of the judge in the case, İmamoğlu told the judge, 'I hope something like this does not happen to you.'

'I AM STRONGER TODAY THAN YESTERDAY'

Stating that the judicial panel for his cases has been changed 12 times, İmamoğlu continued:

'My struggle is a struggle against cruelty. No power can intimidate me. I am stronger today than I was yesterday. Tomorrow, I will be even stronger than this. I cannot even describe how my strength continues to grow.'

'I CAME TO ACCUSE'

İmamoğlu continued his speech as follows:

'I came here today to accuse. I underline that those who put their signatures to this injustice will be held accountable in these courtrooms under fair justice. I am aware that not remaining silent today is also a service to the homeland and the future. Know this: if we do not speak up today, harder days await us.'

'The judicial panel has changed in all the cases where my name is mentioned. I am saying this to protect you, your honor. You have been newly assigned to this file. I am aware that this is not an easy situation for you either. However, it is not easy at all for the judge who was sent elsewhere. They were put under suspicion, and my right to a fair trial was violated.'

'WILL YOU BE ABLE TO MAKE AN INDEPENDENT DECISION?'

Directing questions to the judge, İmamoğlu continued:

'If I prove that all my documents, all my transactions, and all the evidence I have presented are not fake, will you be able to make an independent decision under this pressure? I have taken this question and placed it here. Justice does not come by changing judges or promoting prosecutors. Everyone who is an instrument to this will eventually be held accountable before fair justice.'

'What is it? I committed forgery. It is a complete setup. If you asked all the lawyers in Turkey, my diploma is as legitimate as my mother's milk. I did not commit any forgery. I do not accept these accusations that attempt to put the 19-year-old Ekrem on trial. I hereby declare that I will seek my rights to the end against those who attempt this.'

JUDGE'S 'FINANCIAL STATUS' QUESTION TO İMAMOĞLU

Continuing his defense, İmamoğlu said, 'This case is a case to block Ekrem İmamoğlu's presidential candidacy. What is happening does not surprise me because they have done everything so far, but we will overcome these absurd days. Those involved in this process will not even be able to look their own children in the eye.'

Stating that he wanted to continue speaking about the file, İmamoğlu then said, 'There are four sides to this absurd case: the 19-year-old me. I still feel as young as a 25-year-old, that is another matter...' while the presiding judge interrupted, asking, 'I will ask a question about the 19-year-old Ekrem. You wrote a letter to Istanbul University during the transition process regarding your financial status. Was your financial status bad back then?'

İmamoğlu, surprised by the judge's question, replied: 'Is this what caught your attention in the entire file, your honor? You made a very bad start. I do not form prejudices, but this should not have been your first question. My advice to you is to think carefully before asking questions, your honor.'

'I KEPT MY FILES BECAUSE...'

İmamoğlu continued his defense by showing large, cardboard-mounted versions of the official documents related to the universities he attended. Showing all his documents, grade point averages, and transfer letters to the judge, İmamoğlu continued:

'As you can see, all my documents are with me, and they were all recorded step by step. It is a good thing I had the foresight to keep these. I suppose I kept them in case someone would do something dishonorable with this one day.'

Telling the judge, 'You also finished university, you know that a diploma document is real,' İmamoğlu then asked him, 'Which school did you graduate from?', to which the judge replied that he graduated from Istanbul University. Smiling, İmamoğlu replied, 'How nice. I am protecting your rights as well.'

'EVERYTHING ABOUT ME IS REAL'

'All my documents are real, everything about me is real,' said İmamoğlu, showing the official letter from the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the diploma investigation to the judge and pointing out that a university diploma is required for presidential candidacy.

İmamoğlu said, 'The prosecutor who wrote this is also getting a promotion. May God give wisdom to both the one who promotes and the one who is promoted. This case is being politicized not only through the judiciary but also through academic institutions,' he said.

'PITIFUL RECTOR'

Speaking about Istanbul University Rector Osman Bülent Zülfikar, who cancelled his diploma, İmamoğlu said, 'This pitiful man has come out and is making statements to the pro-government press. A storyteller, a fictional rector. The rector who could not even allow a photographer into his office when I visited him. The rector who said he was in a difficult situation when I called him a few days before the diploma cancellation... I want to address this rector in a difficult situation who is trying to clear his name by talking to pro-government newspapers: A state university cannot act on instructions,' he said.

'YOU WILL BE QUESTIONED IF NECESSARY, YOUR HONOR'

Giving various examples from the prosecutor's statements in the indictment, İmamoğlu said that the prosecution fills the gaps in the indictment with stories and reading intentions.

Speaking about the indictment, İmamoğlu said to the judge, 'A 19-year-old person cannot commit forgery. Do you think they can, your honor?'

The judge replied, 'You are the one being questioned here, not me.' İmamoğlu responded to the judge, 'You will be questioned if necessary, your honor.'

When the judge asked İmamoğlu, 'What do you mean?', İmamoğlu said, 'If you ask loaded questions, you will get answers like this.'

'POVERTY' POLEMIC WITH THE JUDGE

While the judge was asking various questions to İmamoğlu, İmamoğlu said, 'Cancel my military service as well. I do not have a birth certificate, maybe you can cancel that too. Thank God my family is here.'

Subsequently, the judge asked the question, 'Were you poor back then?' regarding the statements İmamoğlu wrote about his economic status in his petition during the transition process to Istanbul University.

İmamoğlu said that he did not experience poverty but that he might have had minor cash shortages and commercial problems at that time, stating, 'Thank God we were not poor. I wish you had said a word or two about the change of the judicial panel as much as you focused on the poverty issue,' he said.

The hearing continued with the defense of İmamoğlu's lawyers.

45-MINUTE BREAK IN THE HEARING

After the lawyers completed their defense, a 45-minute break was given in the hearing.

The administrative court will be awaited for the decision. The hearing was adjourned until February 16.

İmamoğlu reacted by shouting, 'You have no intention of conducting a fair trial, it is a pity for all of you. It is a great pity for all of you... Your judgeship is worthless.'

News Source: 12punto