Özgür Özel Visits Council of State, Defends İmamoğlu’s Legitimacy

Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chairperson Özgür Özel paid an official visit to the President of the Council of State, Zeki Yiğit, underscoring his party’s respect for judicial independence. However, the spotlight quickly shifted to ongoing controversies surrounding Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, whose unnotified diploma annulment has drawn intense scrutiny.

İmamoğlu’s Diploma Still Not Officially Revoked

Özel confirmed that no formal notification has been delivered regarding the reported annulment of İmamoğlu’s university diploma, which he argues is a legally flawed and unprocedural move. “They claim to have invalidated the diploma, but they haven’t even served the decision. It’s been a month,” he said. “Without formal notice, we can’t even begin our legal appeal.”

He stressed that the decision did not come from the institution that originally issued the diploma, which, according to Özel, constitutes a serious procedural error. “The body that awarded the diploma is not the one annulling it. That alone makes this decision problematic,” he added.

“Their act is so irregular and deficient that they can’t even bring themselves to officially notify it. Once it’s served, we’ll immediately challenge it in administrative court.”

Council of State Visit: Upholding Judicial Institutions

Özel clarified that the visit to the Council of State was not related to specific legal cases, but a symbolic gesture to affirm the rule of law. “We want to emphasize our respect for high courts and judicial independence,” he said. He called on courts to act in a way that reassures public trust, especially during such politically turbulent times.

On the Kozağaçlı Case: “This is Injustice”

The CHP leader also reacted to the re-arrest of lawyer Selçuk Kozağaçlı, known for representing Soma mine disaster victims. Calling Kozağaçlı’s imprisonment “a deep moral contradiction,” Özel said, “While real criminals walk free, those who defend justice are punished. This is cruelty.”

Can Atalay and Parliament Criticism

Özel harshly criticized Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş for not implementing the Constitutional Court’s ruling to reinstate MP Can Atalay. He praised Deputy Speaker Karaca for reading the ruling in Parliament, calling it “the only right move,” and reiterated:

🗨️ “The Constitutional Court’s rulings are binding for all. Not reading it aloud in Parliament is a criminal act. The responsibility falls squarely on the Speaker of the Assembly.”

Dismisses “CHP Trusteeship” Rumors

Özel also addressed claims by columnist Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı that the government could appoint a trustee to run CHP, calling the rumors “baseless” and “malicious.” “Let it be known: there will be no trustee to CHP. We’ve completed our congress and stand united,” he said.