Istanbul Mayor Faces Jail and Political Ban in New Trial
Istanbul's jailed Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu faces new trial Sept 11 over alleged diploma forgery. Could get 8+ years & political ban, blocking 2028 run. CHP calls it political targeting, France expresses concern. Turkey responds: "No interference in our independent judiciary."
By Ahora Qadi
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Istanbul’s suspended mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, is set to face a new trial on September 11 over allegations of forging his academic certificate, according to a report by Agence France-Presse. The proceedings add further legal weight to a case already mired in political controversy and accusations of judicial overreach.
Imamoglu, a senior figure in Turkey’s main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), has been imprisoned since March 19 following accusations of "corruption" and "terrorism" in a sweeping operation that targeted over a hundred of his associates, elected officials, and party members.
Eight Years and Political Ban at Stake
In this new trial, Imamoglu could face between two years and six months to a maximum of eight years and nine months in prison. A political ban would accompany any conviction, further diminishing his chances of running in Turkey’s 2028 presidential elections — a prospect that had once positioned him as a primary challenger to Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The Istanbul Prosecutor’s Office has accused Imamoglu of “repeatedly forging official documents,” asserting that his university diploma was obtained unlawfully. The charges come after Istanbul University’s decision to annul Imamoglu’s degree—a move that has sparked both legal debates and political uproar.
In a post on social media platform X, Imamoglu denounced the university board’s decision as "illegal," stating that such matters fall under the jurisdiction of the Business School’s academic council, from which he graduated.
International Reactions and Government Response
On Monday, France voiced its “deep concern” over the mass arrests, emphasizing the importance of upholding the rights of elected officials in a state governed by the rule of law. In response, the Turkish government rejected what it described as "interference in ongoing judicial procedures," insisting that “fair and impartial legal processes are guaranteed for all its citizens.”
