Trial begins against Ekrem İmamoğlu over alleged forged diploma

A high-security court in Silivri prison today started the trial of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is accused of using a forged university diploma. The prosecution is seeking a prison sentence ranging from 2.5 to 8.5 years.

According to the case file, the disputed diploma was obtained from a university in Northern Cyprus. Investigators claim that at the time of issuance, the diploma was not officially recognized by the Turkish Council of Higher Education. Subsequently, Istanbul University announced the annulment of the equivalency of the title, which became the basis for criminal prosecution.

The prosecutor also states that if convicted, İmamoğlu could be stripped of his political rights and barred from participating in election campaigns. The case has attracted significant attention from Turkish and international media.

The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) described the move as a political operation. Prosecutors insist that this is a case of forging an official document.

The case is seen as significant for the political future of one of the leading figures of the Turkish opposition. Source: Cyprus News Agency (ΚΥΠΕ).