New development in Ekrem İmamoğlu's diploma crisis: Promoted after the report

The events that unfolded following the cancellation of the diploma earned 31 years ago by presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu have become one of Turkey's most significant political and legal processes.

The CHP argues that İmamoğlu's diploma was unfairly cancelled and continues its efforts to reclaim the diploma through legal initiatives.

T24 columnist Tolga Şardan reported on the critical developments regarding the issue. Şardan detailed the process behind the cancellation of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu's diploma and the underlying reasons for the appointments within the YÖK Supervisory Board.

The Istanbul University administration cancelled Ekrem İmamoğlu's diploma on March 18. The following day, İmamoğlu was detained and subsequently arrested. The report prepared by the Higher Education Council (YÖK) Supervisory Board was cited as the justification for the cancellation of the diploma.

The YÖK Supervisory Board prepared a special report investigating whether İmamoğlu's diploma was forged. The report contained information that while İmamoğlu met the requirements for a lateral transfer, the equivalence of Girne American University had not been recognized by YÖK since 1990. Following this report, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched a judicial investigation into İmamoğlu on allegations of forgery of official documents.

THE NAME WHO RECEIVED A 'PROMOTION' AT YÖK

After the YÖK Supervisory Board prepared the report regarding İmamoğlu's diploma, a notable appointment process took place within the supervisory board presidency. Ercan Özkan, the Acting Head of the YÖK Supervisory Board, was temporarily brought to the presidency on August 23, 2024. However, Özkan's tenure was limited to acting capacity.

Following the submission of the report regarding İmamoğlu's diploma, Özkan was reappointed as a member of the YÖK Supervisory Board by President Erdoğan on November 7, 2024. The period during which Özkan served as acting head continued until the time the report on İmamoğlu's diploma was prepared.

The YÖK Supervisory Board submitted the report in February. However, it was noted that Özkan was appointed to the position permanently in March 2025. Özkan's appointment was recorded as the first promotion carried out since the beginning of İmamoğlu's judicial process.