In political blow, university annuls Erdogan rival’s degree

Istanbul University said on Tuesday 18 March it had annulled the degree of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s main political rival over irregularities, dealing a blow to the opposition days before it was set to pick him as its presidential candidate in the next election, reports Reuters.

Without a university degree, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu of the main opposition Republican People’s Party cannot stand as a candidate for president. He said the university’s decision was illegal and outside its jurisdiction, and that he would launch a legal challenge.

Erdogan’s government denies political pressure on the courts and says the judiciary is independent. The move comes amid a widening legal crackdown on opposition figures, particularly Imamoglu. It follows numerous indictments against the mayor and the appointment of several government trustees to opposition-held municipal positions.
Full report on the Reuters site