'Erdogan without a diploma' slogan lawsuit: 'Recusal of judge' request rejected

President Erdogan filed a lawsuit against CHP Chairman Ozgur Ozel due to the 'Erdogan without a diploma' slogan chanted during protests organized by the CHP in Istanbul's Bayrampasa district on August 13, 2025, and the case, in which 500 thousand TL in non-pecuniary damages was sought, was heard at the Ankara 44th Civil Court of First Instance.

'JUDGE HAS PERSONAL CURIOSITY' OBJECTION

In the aforementioned lawsuit filed by President Erdogan against CHP Chairman Ozgur Ozel over the words 'Erdogan without a diploma', the judge requested that the diploma be submitted to the court, and Erdogan's lawyer filed a 'recusal of judge' request on the grounds that 'the judge has a personal curiosity regarding the matter'.

The court has issued its decision regarding the aforementioned 'recusal of judge' request.

The court responded to the request by stating, 'In the concrete case, it is understood that the hearing of the case has been adjourned to 10.09.2026, and the judge whose recusal is requested will end his judicial duty due to the age limit as of 24.03.2026; therefore, as the request for recusal of the judge has become moot, it has been deemed necessary to decide as follows that there is no need to issue a decision regarding the request for recusal of the judge'.

News Source: 12punto