Ekrem İmamoğlu, before the judge regarding his diploma case: "The prosecutor did not write this indictment, those who knew I would win the next election did."

Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is being held in Marmara Prison, presented his defense in a lawsuit filed against him regarding his transfer degree from the University College of Northern Cyprus. İmamoğlu questioned how an 18-year-old student could commit such accusations.

İmamoğlu and his lawyers attended the hearing, held at the Istanbul 59th Criminal Court of First Instance, across from the Marmara Closed Penal Institution in Silivri. The hearing began at 10:50 a.m. with İmamoğlu being admitted to the courtroom.

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, İmamoğlu's wife Dilek İmamoğlu, his children, and his father, Hasan İmamoğlu, as well as CHP members, attended the hearing. İmamoğlu stated in his identification that he had a master's degree and had a monthly income of 250,000 lira.

In his defense, Ekrem İmamoğlu said , "Can you believe how an 18-year-old kid did something like this 35 years ago? The prosecutor didn't write this indictment; those who knew I would win the next election did."

İmamoğlu, reminding everyone that today is September 12th, said, "I would like to say that we are currently in the midst of a coup. We are in a very painful process where this scheme has been carried out step by step for about a year, the fuse was pulled with the revocation of my diploma on March 18th, and the operations continued on March 19th."

İmamoğlu said, "As an 18-year-old, I'm being tried for something I had no hand in, and that carries a prison sentence. The case is entirely fabricated. It's as if I obtained my diploma fraudulently, applied for a master's degree, took it to the military recruiting office, used it, and then submitted it to the Supreme Election Council."

İmamoğlu, who stated that one can become a mayor even with a high school diploma, said , "He's panicking about applying to the Supreme Election Board and actually giving himself away. This document is the gist of it. It's a game designed around a master's degree."

İmamoğlu claimed that the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office sent a letter to Istanbul University on February 24th, urging them to "hurry up and decide now." He stated that the letter expressed concern that his diploma was still being used and that İmamoğlu might apply for the presidency.

"The Supreme Election Board only requires a university degree for presidential candidates. It is not granted for any other office. This is a complete disgrace," İmamoğlu said, adding that he wanted to "announce this situation to all of Türkiye with neon lights."

İmamoğlu said at the hearing, "They revoked my diploma, which was as halal as my mother's white milk. They must have understood 30-35 years ago that I would become president."

İmamoğlu, who explained that he was born and raised in a village, said, "I went to Cyprus at 17. I received my graduation diploma from Istanbul University at 23. We are faced with a network that has signed on without hesitation to violate others' rights."

İmamoğlu chatted with reporters during a break in the hearing. Regarding the police blockading the CHP Istanbul Provincial Headquarters and the use of pepper spray on citizens and members of parliament, İmamoğlu said, "I watched with pain as if my home had been robbed." He also commented on the September 15th congress case: "I hope this chapter will be closed that day. If this country has the opportunity for a single day of dialogue, everything will change. What political gain does the mindset that wants this fight have?"

İmamoğlu, noting that he had time to read in prison, said, "I've finished Kemal Tahir 3 and am continuing with Devlet Ana. I've started İhsan Oktay Anar's Mislu Kıtalar Atlası (The Atlas of Misty Continents). I'm reading İlker Başbuğ's book." He also addressed AK Party members regarding the latest developments:

It's imperative that all parties, including those who have been involved in politics within the AK Party, stand against this process. The damage such actions can inflict is incalculable. I shared this on social media. We can't consider this a simple action based on the ambitions of a handful of people. The police are taking action but can't provide documentation. This form of instruction cannot be taken; it must be supported by the law. May God protect the homes, lives, and political parties of these people. Then we stand in the safest place.

İmamoğlu, responding to a question about MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli's statements by asking, "Why are we in prison? Why are we being detained and tried? What good is it to constantly pressure people into calling us 'traitors'? Does the state take people captive, does it hold them hostage?", also said regarding the resignation of Beykoz Deputy Mayor Özlem Vural Gürzel, "She wrote to me two days ago saying, 'I will resign from my position.' She is a woman we call our daughter. I told her, 'Don't rush.' It was a shame."

The indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office states that an application was made to CİMER on September 18, 2024, alleging that İmamoğlu's diploma was fake, and a complaint petition was submitted to the prosecutor's office on October 1.

The indictment states that the University College of Northern Cyprus (UCNC), where İmamoğlu studied in Cyprus, was not one of the universities recognized by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) in 1990. YÖK's documents from 1988 and 1992 state that only Eastern Mediterranean University was recognized among institutions operating in the TRNC.

The indictment alleges that horizontal transfer quotas were increased irregularly, some students were deleted from the list and new students were added, and 54 people were accepted into the 3-person quota.

It is stated that İmamoğlu is recorded in the student registry as a student of Eastern Mediterranean University, even though he is actually registered at the University College of Northern Cyprus.

The prosecutor's office is seeking a prison sentence of between 2 years and 6 months and 8 years and 9 months for İmamoğlu on the charge of "successive forgery of official documents." They also request that, if convicted, he be deprived of certain rights under Article 53 of the Turkish Penal Code.

The indictment also seeks the confiscation of İmamoğlu's allegedly forged documents under Article 54 of the Turkish Penal Code. The case is ongoing.