Ekrem Imamoglu, , stood trial on Friday on charges of falsifying his university degree.
Imamoglu, who is being held in a prison 80 kilometers away from Istanbul, is accused of “repeated falsification of official documents” regarding his degree, according to official documents.
As he entered the courtroom, many spectators cheered, calling him “President Imamoglu.”
“What exactly is my crime here? What fraud?” he asked.
What did the opposition leader say?
According to Imamoglu, he had been accepted at age 18 by a university in the territory of Northern Cyprus, a Turkish-dominated region only recognized by Ankara, to study a degree that he later transferred to Istanbul University to complete.
Imamoglu said this was in line with Turkey’s Council of Higher Education (YOK) regulations.
“This is the level of absurdity in the indictment: next they might even claim the TRNC does not exist just so my degree can be revoked,” he added.
The prosecution is seeking a jail term of up to eight years and nine months
The court hearing took some seven hours, with the next hearing being set for October 20.
Who is Ekrem Imamoglu?
Imamoglu, a popular opposition figure who is seen as the biggets rival of current President , was arrested in March as part of a corruption investigation.
He is the candidate for the opposition party CHP in the 2028 presidential elections. His arrest resulted in by supporters of the opposition.
According to the Turkish constitution, presidential candidates must have a college degree. However, Istanbul University revoked Imamoglu’s degree, alleging that the city’s mayor had obtained it falsely.
Imamoglu took the decision to court, calling it “unlawful.”
Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko
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