Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu Arrested in Turkey: What’s the Link to a Degree from Northern Cyprus?

In Turkey, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was arrested during a large-scale operation by law enforcement. The politician, known for his opposition views, is facing suspicions, including the illegal acquisition of a degree from Northern Cyprus.

According to CNN Türk, İmamoğlu was taken to court under police escort. Authorities also conducted a search of his home in the Sarıyer district before sending him for a medical examination.

İmamoğlu is currently under investigation for two separate cases, one of which is reportedly related to corruption and his degree from Northern Cyprus. Recently, Istanbul University annulled the degrees of 28 students who had been transferred to the institution in 1990 through an irregular horizontal transfer process. İmamoğlu was among them. He had initially studied at a university in Northern Cyprus, but later transferred to Istanbul, even though the institution was not officially recognized at the time.

As reported by RIA Novosti, İmamoğlu is regarded as the main challenger to the current President of Turkey. There have been reports suggesting that early presidential elections may take place as soon as 2027. Under Turkish law, presidential candidates are required to hold a higher education degree.

In response to İmamoğlu's arrest, protests and demonstrations have been banned in Istanbul until March 23. Residents of the city have also reported issues accessing the internet. Authorities have shut down traffic on several central streets and temporarily closed one metro station.

Additionally, the news of İmamoğlu’s arrest caused a significant drop in the Turkish lira’s value. The Istanbul Stock Exchange index fell by 6.87% upon opening, leading to a temporary suspension of trading.