Imamoglu's diploma crisis leads to resignation: Striking defense from Istanbul University to the court

While discussions continue regarding the annulment of the Istanbul University diploma received in 1993 by CHP's imprisoned presidential candidate and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, a critical document has reached the court. Istanbul University submitted its defense regarding the annulment of the diploma to the 5th Administrative Court in a 500-page file.

REASON FOR RESIGNATION WAS NOT 'HEALTH' BUT 'ANNULMENT DECISION'

The most striking part of the defense concerned the resignation of the former Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Köse. On page 48 of the defense, the university administration clearly stated that Prof. Dr. Köse opposed the diploma annulment process and resigned for this reason. The claim reflected in the public sphere that he "resigned due to health problems" has been refuted by this document.

FACULTY BOARD COULD NOT CONVENE, DECISION CAME FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD

The university stated that because the deanship position remained vacant, the Faculty Administrative Board could not convene, and therefore the decision-making process was moved to the University Administrative Board. In other words, the diploma annulment was carried out by the university's general administrative board.

"THERE WAS NO DESIRE TO MAKE A DECISION BASED ON 'CLEAR ERROR' AND 'NULLITY'"

In its defense, the university included the following statements regarding the resignation of former Dean Köse:

"Regarding the allegation that the plaintiff's lateral transfer was irregular, no decision could be taken by the Faculty of Business Administration Administrative Board. Following the request of the relevant Faculty Dean in his petition dated 12.03.2025 to resign from his Deanship position due to health problems, a request was made to the Council of Higher Education Presidency with the letter dated 13.03.2025, numbered 3237667, for the position to be carried out by proxy until a new Dean is appointed; however, since the reply letter entered our records on 28.03.2025 with the number 3262092, and the Deanship position that would chair the Faculty Administrative Board was vacant, the Board could not convene. (Annex:9/1).

The aforementioned Deanship position; regarding the application made to the Presidential Communication Center on 24.03.2020 with number 65946; replied with the statement 'he enrolled by fulfilling the admission requirements', as seen in Annex-10; the letter dated 27.03.2020, numbered 67242, and the reply letters given in the same direction to 15 applications made on the same subject are attached (Annex:9/2). In the report prepared as a result of the examination; upon the specification of the grounds of 'clear error' and 'nullity', which would result in a decision contrary to the aforementioned replies, since there was no desire to make such a decision, the Deanship position remained vacant due to his resignation from office, and since the Faculty Administrative Board could not convene, it had to be discussed at the University Administrative Board."

News Source: 12punto