Diploma controversy continues: Chief Public Prosecutor's Office denies reports claiming 'Imamoglu's diploma should be revoked'!

It had been stated that the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had sent a letter to the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) and Istanbul University regarding Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu's diploma.

In the prosecutor's letter, it was requested that "necessary actions be taken as soon as possible" regarding Ekrem İmamoğlu's diploma. However, the news was presented out of context in Hürriyet and Sabah newspapers.

CHIEF PUBLIC PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE: CANCELLATION WAS NOT REQUESTED

However, the newspaper's report was denied by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. In an information note shared by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was stated that no request for the cancellation of the diploma was made in the letter sent to Istanbul University.

In the letter sent by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office to Istanbul University, it was requested that "necessary actions be taken as soon as possible so that any work or proceedings based on the diploma are not unlawful."

The prosecutor's office also requested that the names of those who signed Ekrem İmamoğlu's lateral transfer procedures be reported urgently.

The letter sent by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office to Istanbul University included the following statements:

"Within the scope of the Council of Higher Education's research report dated 17.02.2025, and based on the Council of Higher Education Presidency's letters dated 29.06.1988 and numbered 1830, dated 17.09.1991 and numbered 3462, and dated 23.10.1992 and numbered 4240, it is stated that only Eastern Mediterranean University among the higher education institutions operating in the T.R.N.C. is recognized by the Council of Higher Education; considering the correspondence in question, it is understood that the condition of recognition of higher education institutions in foreign countries is required for lateral transfer procedures; therefore, it has been understood that the lateral transfer procedures made from the unrecognized University College of Northern Cyprus (UCNC) were not carried out by the Istanbul University Faculty of Business Administration Dean's Office in accordance with the decisions of the Council of Higher Education.

In this context; within the scope of the Council of Higher Education Presidency's research report dated 17/02/2025, it has been determined that the administrative procedures regarding recognition, lateral transfer quotas, announcement periods, and lateral transfer acceptance by the Istanbul University Faculty of Business Administration Dean's Office were carried out in violation of the decisions of the Council of Higher Education, and that the diploma in question continues to be used (such as for the Supreme Election Council, etc.); in this context, necessary actions should be taken as soon as possible so that any work or proceedings based on the diploma are not unlawful,

Considering the legally irreparable consequences that may arise from the use of the diploma in question in line with the report sent in the annex by the Istanbul University Rectorate, it is requested that an administrative investigation be conducted, or if an administrative investigation is already underway, that the investigation reports in question be sent to our Chief Public Prosecutor's Office; that certified copies of all documents regarding the education Ekrem İmamoğlu received at Istanbul University be sent to us; that the identity of the person or persons who initiated the work and procedures regarding the acceptance of the lateral transfer on September 12, 1990, be determined and their clear identity information be sent to us; and that the answer regarding whether similar lateral transfer procedures were carried out on the dates specified in the report mentioned in the report be sent to our Chief Public Prosecutor's Office URGENTLY.