Ekrem İmamoğlu at the courthouse: He gave his statement as part of the diploma investigation

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu arrived at the Çağlayan Courthouse as part of the diploma investigation opened against him. The process of giving a statement for İmamoğlu has been completed.

İmamoğlu had come to the Çağlayan Courthouse once before in recent days as part of an expert witness investigation and had given his statement. IMM Mayor İmamoğlu was met by large crowds. After giving his statement, İmamoğlu had made a joint statement with Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş.

'FAKE DIPLOMA' INVESTIGATION

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had launched an investigation for the crime of "forgery of an official document" following reports that IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu's undergraduate diploma was "fake" and "findings regarding the forgery of his diploma" in a report prepared by the Council of Higher Education. İmamoğlu had been invited to the prosecutor's office to give his statement as part of the investigation.

In a letter sent to Istanbul University as part of the investigation opened against İmamoğlu for the crime of "forgery of an official document" on the allegation that his university diploma was "fake," the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had requested that necessary actions be taken as soon as possible so that any work and transactions based on İmamoğlu's diploma would not be unlawful.

HIS LAWYERS HAD MADE A STATEMENT

One of İmamoğlu's lawyers, Professor Doctor Adem Sözüer, had stated that Ekrem İmamoğlu did not engage in any "fraudulent or unlawful behavior" regarding his transfer application from Girne American University in Northern Cyprus to Istanbul University.

İmamoğlu's advisor Murat Ongun had also denied the allegation that the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had requested the cancellation of İmamoğlu's diploma from Istanbul University in a social media post on February 26.

In another post, Ongun had used the following expressions: We announce to the public that we will exercise our legal rights regarding this person and others like him, whom the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has also denied, due to writings aimed at openly misleading the public and activities aimed at interfering with the judiciary.

İMAMOĞLU'S STATEMENT HAS EMERGED

İmamoğlu, who gave his statement at the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office for about an hour, denied the accusations against him. In response to the accusation of 'forgery of an official document,' İmamoğlu argued that 'it is not even clear what he is being accused of.' İmamoğlu stated that he maintains his belief in the principles of the rule of law. Criticizing being called to give a statement for the third time in the last month, İmamoğlu noted that this situation shows that the process is unlawful.

Stating that 'those who should be giving statements are those who prepared the report,' İmamoğlu put forward the claim that the Higher Education Supervisory Board (YÖK) Research Report, which is shown as the basis for the accusation, is 'unlawful.' His lawyers emphasized that the investigation lacks a legal basis and that the report does not reflect the truth.

Reacting to the process in his statement, İmamoğlu used the following expressions:

''I have become informed about the entire scope of the file. First of all, I would like to convey my own feelings and thoughts entirely; If I am expected to make a defense here today, I never find this correct. It is not even clear what I am being accused of. I came here because of my respect for the rule of law and judicial authorities, no matter what. However, I would like to state that these statements I have made out of respect are not intended as a defense, but are made to record the injustices directed at me, the number of which I can no longer even remember.

The Republic of Turkey is a state of law. In accordance with the principle of the rule of law, it is essential that investigation processes are carried out in a fair and lawful manner, far from arbitrariness. Being called to give a statement for the third time in the last month clearly shows that the process being carried out does not align with the principles of the rule of law. The nature and timing of this process carried out against me is another proof of this fact.

A report has been prepared in which facts are distorted, documents are hidden, laws and regulations are ignored, and even today's laws are attempted to be applied to 35 years ago, and an accusation has been directed at me based on this report. Yet, those who should be giving statements here today are those who prepared that report. My lawyers have filed the necessary criminal complaints regarding this matter. On this occasion, I also request that you initiate the necessary legal process against the persons responsible for this report.

Accusing a mayor who has consolidated his democratic legitimacy with four election victories and the will of a city of 16 million; a citizen who has not eaten anyone's rights and has not let his own rights be eaten, with baseless allegations lacking a legal foundation, is a grave injustice both to the rule of law and to the democratic will of the people. Everyone who believes that Turkey should be a state of law must act more carefully on these matters.

Maintaining my belief that Turkey is a state of law, I emphasize once again that justice must be served in accordance with the rules of law. I have nothing else to say regarding the accusation; my lawyers will make the necessary explanations from a legal perspective.''