Turkey university cancels Erdogan rival’s university degree

ISTANBUL: A Turkish university said Tuesday that Istanbul’s mayor Ekrem Imamoglu -- a rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and already the target of a clutch of court cases -- falsely obtained his university degree.

The ruling could deprive him of the chance to challenge Erdogan for the presidency -- an office which requires a higher education degree. Imamoglu slammed the decision as “unlawful” and said the board of Istanbul University had no authority to make such a decision. “The days when those who made this decision will be held accountable before history and justice are near,” the popular mayor said on X.

“The march of our nation, thirsty for justice, law and democracy, cannot be stopped,” he vowed. Imamoglu, who is in his second term as mayor of Turkey’s largest city, is likely to fight the decision in court. Erdogan has repeatedly faced claims that he never graduated from university himself, and thus should not be president, claims he and officials have rejected.