Turkish University annuls Erdogan rival’s degree, blocking presidential bid

Istanbul University said on Tuesday it had annulled the degree of President Tayyip Erdogan's main political rival over irregularities, dealing a blow to the opposition days before it was set to pick him as its presidential candidate in the next election.

Without a university degree, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) cannot stand as a candidate for president. He said the university's decision was illegal and outside its jurisdiction, and that he would launch a legal challenge.

"We will take this illegitimate decision to court and fight it," he said, but added "I have no faith that fair decisions will come out," citing political pressure on the judiciary.

"I will not give up, I will not get tired. Ekrem is not the subject of this action anymore, the entire nation is, everything people have earned and achieved is in danger," he added.

Erdogan's government denies political pressure on the courts and says the judiciary is independent.

The move comes amid a widening legal crackdown on opposition figures, particularly Imamoglu. It follows numerous indictments against the mayor and the appointment of several government trustees to opposition-held municipal positions.

"This is another turning point in Turkey's democratic backsliding," said Seda Demiralp, chair of the Department of International Relations at Isik University in Istanbul.

"It is perceived by various opposition groups as a highly intimidating move," she said.

'CLEAR ERRORS'

In a statement, the university said 38 people had transferred to its management faculty's English-language programme in 1990 in an irregular way.

The graduations and degrees of 28 of them, including Imamoglu, were annulled as being "void" and due to "clear errors" regarding the regulations of the Higher Education Board (YOK), the school said.

In recent weeks authorities launched an investigation into alleged forgery of official documents related to Imamoglu's university diploma, in a move critics called the latest state effort to use the judiciary to curb dissent.

Last week, Imamoglu lawyer Mehmet Pehlivan told Reuters there were no irregularities with the mayor's diploma.

In a post on X on Tuesday, the lawyer said the university's board of directors did not have the authority to make such a decision and called it null and void.

Imamoglu has long been seen as a capable challenger to Erdogan, who has run Turkey for more than two decades and who must hold elections before they are scheduled in 2028 if he wants to run again under the constitution.

The mayor has ramped up his criticism of the president and his government in recent months as he launched his bid to represent the CHP in the next presidential vote.

The move shows that "the regime is not shying away from any means to oppress opposition with measures including canceling someone's diploma after 30 years," added Demiralp.

The CHP and IYI, another opposition party, slammed the move.

CHP Chairman Ozgur Ozel said the decision was a "dark smear" and that his party would name Imamoglu as its presidential candidate on March 23.

Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavas, seen as an alternative CHP presidential candidate, backed Imamoglu and said the party will take legal action against the university decision.