The Predicted “Cover Letter” / “Legal Formula”
”The candidacy lists finalized by the YSK, and the eligibility reviews upon which these lists are based (including the validity of diplomas and the interpretation of term limits), constitute an absolute, final, and inviolable ‘vested right’ (müktesep hak) for the individuals concerned, in accordance with Article 79 of the Constitution. These decisions are beyond any form of judicial review and cannot be retroactively questioned or nullified by any administrative or judicial court.”
It appears there might be a mix-up between two different issues or sets of allegations. Rather than a specific “diploma lawsuit” filed against Istanbul University between 1981 and 1983, the focus of the debates lies in the institutional transformations of that era and the discrepancies in President Erdoğan’s graduation timeline.
To make the subject clearer, we can detail it as follows:
1. Institutional Chronology and the “Naming” Issue
The foundation of the controversy lies in the name changes of the school from which Erdoğan graduated. This situation forms the primary basis for the lawsuits and objections:
- 1981: Erdoğan stated that he graduated from the Aksaray School of Commerce, which was affiliated with the Istanbul Academy of Economics and Commercial Sciences (İİTİA).
- 1982: The higher education system in Turkey was restructured (under the YÖK Law). During this process, İİTİA was incorporated into the newly established Marmara University.
- The Alleged Discrepancy: Opposition circles have filed legal requests claiming it is chronologically impossible for someone who graduated in 1981 to hold a diploma that says “Marmara University,” as the university was not founded until 1982.
2. The Confusion Regarding Istanbul University
Lawsuits regarding Erdoğan’s diploma have generally been conducted through Marmara University, not Istanbul University. However, Istanbul University might be confused in this context due to two points:
- The Ekrem İmamoğlu Example: İmamoğlu is a graduate of the Istanbul University Faculty of Business Administration, and that school held university status at that time.
- Restoration of Political Rights Cases: In the early 1980s, many faculty members were dismissed from universities under Law No. 1402, leading to numerous lawsuits. However, these cases have no direct connection to Erdoğan’s diploma.
3. The Course of the Lawsuits
In the lawsuits filed to date, the approach of the courts and the Supreme Election Council (YSK) has been as follows:
- “Certified Copy” Approval: Courts and the YSK have accepted the “graduation certificate” and the “notarized copy of the diploma” issued by the university as valid legal evidence.
- Marmara University’s Defense: The university administration addressed legal objections by stating, “Although our university was founded in 1982, we issue diplomas with the Marmara University logo to graduates of the former academies that joined us, upon their request.”
In summary: There is no recorded “diploma annulment” or “forgery registration” case directly filed against Istanbul University during the 1981–1983 period regarding this matter. The debates are primarily based on the inconsistency between the dates and the institution names on the documents.
The Basis of the Lawsuit and the Indictment
The indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office alleges that the documents submitted by Ekrem İmamoğlu during his horizontal transfer to Istanbul University’s Faculty of Business Administration in the 1990s, as well as some documents later submitted to the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB), were “forged.”
The “Certified Copy” Detail: The core of the allegation is that the “diploma” or “graduation certificate” submitted—which was later notarized as a “true copy of the original” (aslı gibidir)—was actually a forgery. It is claimed that the notary certified a fake document as if it were the original.
The Demand: The prosecution is seeking a prison sentence and a political ban on charges of “forgery of official documents.”
2. Objections and Defense from the İmamoğlu Camp
İmamoğlu’s legal team and his spokespeople emphasize that the case is “political” rather than legal, raising the following technical objections:
University Confirmation: The Rectorate of Istanbul University has previously conducted reviews and confirmed that İmamoğlu’s graduation was performed in accordance with the rules and that he is a registered graduate in their system. The defense argues that university records are the ultimate evidence.
Statute of Limitations (Zamanaşımı): The defense argues that since the documents in question date back to 1994–1995, it is legally impossible to file a “forgery of official documents” case 30 years later, as the statute of limitations has long since expired.
Absence of the Original Document: The defense states that the alleged “fake original” document does not exist in the records; they argue that a serious criminal charge cannot be based solely on photocopies or secondary documents without the presence of the purported original forgery.
3. Current Legal Status (as of May 2026)
While the legal proceedings are ongoing, the latest developments are as follows:
Expert Reports: The court is currently reviewing documents from the university archives and notary logs.
Rejection/Evaluation of Objections: The defense’s request to drop the case due to the “statute of limitations” is generally deferred by the court until the end of the trial, citing the need for the full file to be completed.
Political Context: The public largely views this case—much like the “Ahmak” (Fool) Case—as an attempt to create a legal obstacle to İmamoğlu’s political future or a potential presidential candidacy.
In summary: The İmamoğ
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