Pro-government columnist makes 'Council of State' claim regarding İmamoğlu's diploma! 'According to YÖK, there is a 'crime' but...'

A striking claim has been made regarding Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who has been targeted over his university diploma.

Mahmut Övür, a columnist for the Sabah newspaper known for its proximity to the government, has alleged that İmamoğlu's university diploma is being examined by the Council of State.

Writing that İmamoğlu transferred from Girne American University to the English Business Administration Department at Istanbul University, Övür stated, "According to YÖK, there is a 'crime' involved, but since the statute of limitations has expired, there is no possibility of any criminal investigation being opened."

The relevant section of Övür's article, in which he claims the file is being examined by the Council of State, is as follows:

"So, does YÖK have an answer? What I have heard suggests there is. However, the matter is a bit complicated because it dates back 25 years. First, let's give İmamoğlu the good news. According to YÖK, there is a 'crime' involved, but since the statute of limitations has expired, there is no possibility of any criminal investigation being opened. However, it does not end there. Now, let's give the bad news. The file has been sent to the Council of State to be examined from the perspective of administrative law. There is a crime that has reached the statute of limitations, but there is also a diploma obtained as a result of that crime. Now, the Council of State will decide whether that diploma, obtained by committing a crime, will remain valid."