Overview

• The University of Istanbul announced the annulment of Ekrem Imamoglu's university degree, citing 'obvious errors' in the awarding process.
• Imamoglu, a key rival to President Erdogan, has declared the decision illegal and plans to challenge it in court.
• The annulment could disqualify Imamoglu from running in the 2028 Turkish presidential election, as a university degree is a legal prerequisite for candidacy.
• The decision does not affect Imamoglu's current role as mayor of Istanbul, a position to which he was re-elected in March 2024.
• Imamoglu is also facing separate legal charges for allegedly insulting a public official, which he claims are part of a broader campaign of judicial harassment against him.