section_path: Background/Annulment of university degree
section_name: Annulment of university degree
paragraph_text: Annulment of university degree
  
  On 18 March 2025, Istanbul University annulled İmamoğlu's degree, citing irregularities. As Turkey's presidential candidates must hold a university degree, this would effectively block him from running for president. The decision came days before the opposition party was set to nominate him.
  
  Just before İmamoğlu was formally elected as the Mayor of Istanbul in 2019, Sabah newspaper alleged that İmamoğlu’s transfer from Girne American University in Northern Cyprus to Istanbul University was illegal. In response to a complaint in 2020 Istanbul University Presidency said that İmamoğlu applied for the international transfer quota announced by the university and that his application was evaluated and accepted according to the regulations. However, in 2024 the Higher Education Council said that in 1990, the year İmamoğlu transferred, it did not recognize Girne American University. İmamoğlu's lawyers say that at that time recognition of the sending university was not required for transfer, so Istanbul University accepted him. Legal action attempting reinstatement of his degree continues.