He refuses the accusations and claims that this is a politically motivated attempt to shut him down from public life before the elections.
The imprisoned Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamogl awaits on September 11, a trial in connection with allegations of falsification of a university diploma. Istanbul University took away Imamogl the day before his detention is an academic degree without which he cannot run in the presidential election, TASR writes, according to the AFP report.
Imamogl, the main rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan before the presidential election, was detained by the police on March 19. He is accused of several deeds, including corruption. He was also temporarily deprived of the mayor’s functions. He rejects all allegations.
Protests against Erdogan
The detention of a 55-year-old iMamogl prompted mass protests against Erdogan, whose opponents blame the efforts to wean opponents before the Turkish presidential elections scheduled for 2028.
Imamoglu identified the removal of his academic title as illegally claiming that the University Council had exceeded its powers.
Potential punishments for the mayor
He can receive from two and a half years to eight and three quarters of a year for falsifying the official document. In addition, the court may prohibit political activity.
The Mayor of Istanbul appeared in the court in June in the case of insult to the Chief Istanbul prosecutor Akin Gürlek. Imamoglu told court that the case is an attack on government opponents and freedom of expression. The judge adjourned the hearing for 16 July.
