Turkish Court Rejects Jailed Rival's Bid to Overturn Presidential Bloc

A Turkish court on Friday rejected a legal challenge by jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu over the annulment of his university degree, blocking his bid to run in the upcoming presidential election.

İmamoğlu, a key opponent of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, sought to reverse a decision that invalidated his degree, a requirement for presidential candidates. Without it, he remains ineligible to stand in the 2028 election.

The court’s ruling upheld the decision to annul İmamoglu’s degree, reinforcing the barrier to his candidacy. İmamoğlu’s legal team has vowed to appeal the decision.

İmamoğlu, imprisoned since March on corruption charges he denies, has long claimed that the legal actions against him are politically motivated.

• Turkish court blocks İmamoğlu’s bid to run for president over annulled degree
• Jailed opposition leader Ekrem İmamoğlu vows to appeal Turkish court ruling
• Turkey court ruling fuels concerns over political bias and democratic erosion

In addition to the degree issue, he was sentenced last year for allegedly insulting a prosecutor, a conviction he and his supporters argue is part of a wider effort to eliminate him as a political rival.

His detention and the annulment of his degree have sparked widespread criticism from opposition groups and human rights organizations. Critics argue the moves undermine democracy and are designed to weaken political competition before the presidential race. International observers and Western governments have also raised concerns about judicial independence and the targeting of political opponents.

The Turkish government, however, defends the judiciary’s independence, asserting that legal procedures are being followed impartially and that eligibility requirements must be respected. Authorities reject claims of political bias and deny that İmamoğlu is being unfairly targeted.

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This legal battle highlights the escalating political tensions in Turkey as the nation heads toward a critical election period, with critics warning that the repression of high-profile opposition figures could further damage democratic institutions.