Just days before the opposition CHP primary, Istanbul University annulled the diploma of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, effectively blocking his presidential nomination. Now, he has been arrested on corruption and terrorism charges. The move marks yet another escalation in the Turkish government’s repression of opponents.
Days before the opposition CHP primary, Istanbul University annulled one of the most popular candidate, Ekrem İmamoğlu’s diploma, de facto blocking his nomination, another authoritarian tactic to sideline the opposition. In Turkey, a university degree is required to run for president.
This morning he has been arrested on charges of corruption and terrorism.
The contention started yesterday when Istanbul University annulled İmamoğlu’s diploma, claiming irregularities in his 1990 transfer from a private university in northern Cyprus to its Faculty of Business Administration—a justification that many view as highly questionable.
İmamoğlu condemned the ruling as illegal and government-driven, pledging to challenge it. He tweeted: “the decision of the Istanbul University Executive Board is unlawful. They do not have the authority to make such a decision. The authority lies solely with the Executive Board of the Faculty of Business Administration.
The days when those who made this decision will be held accountable before history and justice are near. The march of our nation, thirsty for justice, law, and democracy, cannot be stopped.”
Arrest the Following Day
After the news of the revoking of diploma, Imamoglu was arrested on charges of corruption and terrorism links the following morning. The move comes just days before the opposition CHP’s primary, where he was expected to be nominated for the 2028 presidential race. Authorities also issued 100 additional arrest warrants, blocked roads in Istanbul, and imposed a four-day ban on demonstrations to prevent protests.
İmamoğlu, called the arrest “a blow to the will of the nation,” vowed to continue his political fight. CHP Chairman Özgür Özel denounced the arrest as a “coup” aimed at preventing the opposition from fielding a strong presidential candidate. Meanwhile, Turkey restricted access to social media platforms, further fueling concerns over democratic backsliding.
Another Move of Authoriratian Strategy
Commentators have been arguing that while Turkey’s electoral system has historically permitted some opposition victories, the ruling government now appears intent on preventing any future transfer of power.
The recent appointment of a state trustee in Esenyurt, a key district of Istanbul, marks yet another step in the expansion of this authoritarian strategy. İmamoğlu himself was previously targeted in 2022 when a court ruling blocked his potential candidacy for the opposition in the 2023 presidential election.
In 2022, he was found guilty of insulting members of Turkey’s Supreme Electoral Council, a verdict that could lead to a political ban. He is currently appealing the decision.
He is also facing several other legal cases, including accusations of attempting to sway a judicial expert investigating opposition-led municipalities—a charge that could carry both a prison sentence and a political ban.