Postponement Decision in İmamoğlu's Diploma Case: Next Hearing in 2026

In the diploma trial of İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyesi (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was arrested and suspended from duty, the court made a significant postponement decision. In the hearing held at the courtroom opposite Silivri Marmara Kapalı Ceza İnfaz Kurumu, it was ruled to await the finalization process of the diploma cancellation decision made by the İstanbul 5. İdare Mahkemesi. Accordingly, the verdict on the merits of the case was postponed to a later date. The next hearing is scheduled for 25 Aralık 2026 at 11.00. In addition to Ekrem İmamoğlu and his lawyers, numerous politicians, foreign representatives, and citizens attended the hearing.

İmamoğlu, who was brought to the courtroom accompanied by gendarmes before the hearing, was given a standing ovation by the audience. In the courtroom, numerous deputies and party executives were present, notably CHP Genel Başkanı Özgür Özel, İBB Başkan Vekili Nuri Aslan, İmamoğlu's wife Dilek İmamoğlu, and his son Mehmet Selim İmamoğlu. Additionally, it was reported that Avrupa Parlamentosu Turkey Rapporteur Nacho Sánchez Amor also came to Silivri to closely follow the hearing. The hearing, which was held under heavy security measures, attracted significant media attention from both domestic and international press. The widely attended monitoring of the case demonstrated the enormous political and social repercussions of the event.

Ekrem İmamoğlu, beginning his defense with the words "I address my noble nation," drew attention to the fact that he faced a judge in three separate cases on the same day. İmamoğlu claimed that all cases filed against him should be evaluated as a whole and that the judges presiding over his cases had been changed. Evaluating the judicial processes against him as politically motivated, İmamoğlu also touched upon Turkey's international agenda during his defense. He expressed his views regarding the connection between the upcoming NATO summit and the country's judicial processes. Objecting to the fact that despite the diplomas of 28 other individuals alongside him being canceled, a criminal case was filed only against him, İmamoğlu argued that this situation was unlawful.

In the indictment prepared by the İstanbul Cumhuriyet Başsavcılığı, it is claimed that there were serious irregularities in Ekrem İmamoğlu's horizontal transfer process from University College of Northern Cyprus in Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti. The indictment alleges that İstanbul Üniversitesi records were falsely processed as if he were a student at Doğu Akdeniz Üniversitesi and that the relevant documents were forged. Furthermore, it is stated that İmamoğlu used these documents for his master's degree, military procedures, and Yüksek Seçim Kurulu (YSK) applications. The prosecutor's office is demanding a prison sentence of 2 yıl 6 aydan 8 yıl 9 aya kadar for Ekrem İmamoğlu on charges of "forgery in official documents by chain." In the event of a conviction, the deprivation of certain public rights under Article 53 of the Turkish Penal Code and the confiscation of the documents subject to the case are also among the prosecutor's demands.

In the background of the process lies an application made to CİMER claiming that Ekrem İmamoğlu's university diploma was fake, followed by a criminal complaint petition submitted to the prosecutor's office. Following these applications, an investigation was launched, an indictment was prepared, and a lengthy judicial process began. On the other hand, the lawsuit filed against the cancellation of İmamoğlu's university diploma had previously been rejected by the İstanbul 5. İdare Mahkemesi. The criminal court, as also stated in the prosecutor's opinion, found it appropriate to wait for this administrative decision to become final in order to clarify the judicial process. At the end of his defense, İmamoğlu reiterated his trust in the judiciary and made a call for unity and solidarity to the public.