Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
CIA spokesperson says law enforcement responded to a security incident outside CIA headquarters.
Brigadier General Saree: Operation achieved its targeted successfully, forcing millions of Zionists to flee to shelters, and halted air traffic at the airport.
YAF spokesperson: We've executed a military operation targeting Ben Gurion Airport in occupied Yafa with ballistic hypersonic missile.
IOF warning forces residents to evacuate and head South in preparation for expansion of aggression.
IOF issues large-scale evacuation orders for residents of 14 areas in northern Gaza.
Israeli media say that for second time in span of hours, a ballistic missile is launched from Yemen toward "Israel".
Israeli media say large explosion heard in central "Israel".
Israeli media: Missile launch from Yemen takes place at end of Yahya Saree's announcement.
Israeli media: Sirens blare in occupied Al-Quds.
Saree: Escalation of aggression on Gaza and the massacres committed necessitate urgent action by the [Arab-Islamic] nation to fulfill its moral and religious duty.

Turkish police detain Istanbul mayor over corruption probe

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 19 Mar 2025 08:21
3 Min Read

The latest development came a day after Istanbul University revoked Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's degree, alleging it was fraudulently obtained.

Listen
  • x
  • IstanbulIstanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) gestures as he addresses supporters during an election rally ahead of the May 28 presidential runoff vote, in Istanbul on May 27, 2023. (AFP) 

Turkish police have detained Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on charges of leading a criminal organization, bribery, tender rigging, and aiding a terrorist group, broadcaster CNN Turk reported on Wednesday.

Following Imamoglu’s detention, Turkiye restricted access to multiple social media platforms, including X, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, according to the NetBlocks internet observatory.

In a separate development, a Turkish university on Tuesday revoked Imamoglu’s degree, alleging it was fraudulently obtained.

The decision deals a significant blow to the mayor—widely regarded as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s most formidable political rival—just days before he was set to be officially named the main opposition CHP party’s presidential candidate for the 2028 election.

Under the Turkish constitution, a presidential candidate must hold a higher education degree.

Imamoglu denounced the ruling as "unlawful" and vowed to challenge it in court.

"We will fight this illegitimate decision in court," said the 53-year-old, who has faced mounting legal challenges that critics describe as politically motivated.

"We will build a system that will erase injustice from this country's memory," he added, warning that those responsible for the decision would one day be held accountable.

Erdogan has long denied allegations that he himself never completed university and was therefore constitutionally ineligible for the presidency.

Related News

Damascus, Ankara ink energy deal to supply gas, boost electricity

Turkey finds 6 billion barrel shale oil reserve in southeast

In a statement on X, Istanbul University announced that the degrees of 28 individuals, including Imamoglu, would be "withdrawn and cancelled on the grounds of... obvious error" but did not provide further details.

Opposition CHP leader Ozgur Ozel condemned the move as a "black mark" on Turkiye’s legal and academic institutions, insisting it would not deter the party from nominating Imamoglu as its presidential candidate. He is expected to be formally named at a party congress on Sunday.

"The action taken is not legal, but political... we stand behind Ekrem Imamoglu... (who) is our presidential candidate", Ozel declared, expressing hope that the courts would overturn the decision swiftly.

CHP lawmaker Murat Emir also denounced the ruling as "a heavy blow to our democracy."

On its part, Human Rights Watch called for the immediate release of the Turkish mayor, calling his arrest and charges against him "politically motivated" and "bogus".

Imamoglu’s office had previously published a copy of his business management diploma, issued by Istanbul University in 1995, following claims by a journalist that he did not hold a degree.

In recent years, the mayor has been targeted by multiple legal investigations, with three new cases opened against him this year alone.

In 2022, he was sentenced to two years and seven months in prison and barred from political activity for "insulting" election officials in Istanbul. He has appealed the verdict, with the case still pending.

A vocal critic of Erdogan—who himself rose to the presidency after serving as Istanbul’s mayor—Imamoglu has denounced the legal proceedings against him as judicial "harassment."

Istanbul University stated that it had submitted related documents to the Istanbul prosecutor’s office and the Higher Education Council.

Read more: Turkish strike kills nine civilians in Ain al-Arab: Syrian Observatory

  • Turkey
  • Ekrem Imamoglu
  • Recep Tayyip Erdogan
  • Istanbul
  • Turkiye

Most Read

YAF say struck 'Israel's' Ben-Gurion Airport with missiles, drones

YAF say struck 'Israel's' Ben Gurion Airport with missiles, drones

  • MENA
  • 18 May 2025
Israeli media: Yemen may push 'Israel' towards ceasefire in Gaza

Israeli media: Yemen may push 'Israel' towards ceasefire in Gaza

  • MENA
  • 17 May 2025
Rachel Accurso criticized for speaking out on Gaza children crisis

Ms. Rachel accused of antisemitism for speaking out for Gaza children

  • Politics
  • 20 May 2025
Martyrs, injuries in violent Israeli bombardment of southern Gaza

Israeli operation fails; IOF launch violent strikes on Gaza

  • Politics
  • 19 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Telegram jumps to $540mn profit despite founder facing legal peril: FT
Technology

Telegram jumps to $540mn profit despite founder facing legal peril: FT

Ireland's Simon Harris speaks with the media as he arrives for a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the European Council building in Brussels, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Ireland’s deputy premier accuses Israeli government of genocidal acts

Israeli occupation forces near military vehicles at the Gaza border (AP)
Palestine

WSJ: War fatigue grows in 'Israel' 19 months into war on Gaza

The facade of Trump Tower is shown in New York, Friday, March 22, 2024 (AP/Ted Shaffrey)
MENA

Trump Tower in Damascus: Inside Syria’s bold proposal

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS