İmamoğlu’s lawyers appeal diploma annulment decision

Ekrem İmamoğlu’s lawyers have taken the appeal against the diploma annulment decision to the Council of State, arguing that it is unlawful. In the petition, they alleged that the decision was made for political reasons and that the principle of natural judge was violated during the trial process.

Scraper SystemJune 17, 2026, 07:32 PM

İmamoğlu’s lawyers appeal diploma annulment decision

In the appeal petition submitted by İmamoğlu’s lawyers, they argued that the diploma annulment decision, taken for political motives, is clearly contrary to law, the principle of legal certainty, administrative stability, and acquired rights. They also claimed that the principle of natural judge and the right to a reasoned decision were violated during the trial process. The petition requested a stay of execution and the annulment of the decision.

The petition recalled that Istanbul University annulled İmamoğlu’s lateral transfer, graduation, and diploma on March 18, 2025, and alleged that this decision was taken "hastily and by an unauthorized authority" upon the request of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. The lawyers emphasized that in earlier official opinions issued by the same university, it was stated that İmamoğlu’s lateral transfer was in compliance with the legislation.

The petition noted that Istanbul University's letter dated March 27, 2020, explicitly stated that İmamoğlu met the necessary conditions for lateral transfer, and that a note dated October 7, 2024, bearing the signature of the Istanbul University Rector, also stated that the lateral transfer, graduation, and diploma were in compliance with the law.

The petition therefore argued that the diploma annulment was carried out "not for the public interest, but for political reasons." The appeal petition stated that the Istanbul Regional Administrative Court 7th Administrative Case Chamber, when rejecting the appeal, only evaluated that "the Administrative Court decision was in accordance with procedure and law," and argued that this cannot be considered a legal justification.

It was alleged that the appellate court did not discuss any claim that could affect the outcome of the case, thus violating the "right to a reasoned decision." The petition, citing decisions of the Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights, stated that higher courts must assess the parties' main claims and objections; otherwise, the right to a fair trial would be deemed violated.

The lawyers noted that during the trial process, both the panel of the Istanbul 5th Administrative Court and the panel of the Istanbul Regional Administrative Court 7th Administrative Case Chamber, which conducted the appellate review, were changed, and argued that this also violated the "principle of natural judge." The petition stated that the first-instance court panel was changed four times during the proceedings, and that the president of the appellate court was also changed at the decision stage.

The petition claimed that these changes constituted "open interference in the trial," and that the principle of natural judge, guaranteed by Article 37 of the Constitution, was violated, and that the prohibition on misuse of power under Article 18 of the European Convention on Human Rights was breached. "Acquired rights were taken back after 35 years."

The petition emphasized that the university to which İmamoğlu transferred laterally and the transfer process were known to Istanbul University from the beginning, and that there was no allegation of any fraudulent behavior or use of forged documents during or after his studies.

It was argued that despite this, the annulment of the diploma approximately 35 years later was contrary to the principles of "legal certainty, administrative stability, and acquired rights." İmamoğlu’s lawyers requested that the appeal be accepted, that the execution of the decision dated May 13, 2026, of the Istanbul Regional Administrative Court 7th Administrative Case Chamber, which had rejected the appeal without justification, be stayed, and that the decision of the Istanbul Regional Administrative Court 7th Administrative Case Chamber be overturned.

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İmamoğlu’s lawyers appeal diploma annulment decision