Ekrem İmamoğlu’s defense prior to lawyer statements in the hearing held in Silivri regarding the lawsuit filed at the Istanbul Regional Administrative Court against the cancellation of his diploma

It is very precious for judicial environments to be facilitated and for people to be able to better defend themselves or explain their problems in all environments. In this context, as an administrative court, I would like to express that I find your effort to provide a hearing environment very valuable. Of course, it could have been more meaningful if it were on-site, but this place was deemed appropriate. The concept of facilitating rather than complicating actually exists in our spiritual world as well. I thought about this while coming here this morning. I would like to thank all of you, including the prison managers and correctional officers, for the journey from the prison to here. Likewise, we consider it a duty to thank the gendarmerie and its commanders.

But regarding the concept of facilitating or complicating; since we are in Silivri, a judicial environment has been organized here. I have followed with astonishment some of the arrangements made by the prosecutor's office from the beginning to make things difficult here. After all, there may be those who perceive it—or want to perceive it—as just any other case. I will try to state to you shortly that this is a vitally important case, or rather an administrative case, and that our objection here is not just about Ekrem İmamoğlu. In this scope, if I am not mistaken, the trial under this roof, which is affiliated with the Bakırköy Prosecutor's Office, should have been handled in a much more comprehensive hall—given how important and how much reaction it has garnered—where audience members, colleagues, and legal experts could be in a more productive environment among more people, both politically and professionally. You see that the chairman of the main opposition party, our Chairman Özgür Özel, is here. There are representatives from many parties. Our President of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations is here. The Bar Association President and managers are here.

In such an environment, "do not complicate, facilitate"; this is the command of our faith. It is also a reality of life. Above all, I think it is what should be done in justice. Unfortunately, the will governing this place "passed over" this. Let me express this with regret. We thank everyone for all the facilitating elements, starting with you and your delegation.

Of course, today is the Night of Miraç... First of all, I hope that we experience beautiful things both here in our presence and throughout our country. But clearly, this will be difficult. During this stage of a difficult struggle, the world is being tested, our country is being tested, and justice is being tested. Our wish is for all of us to emerge well from this test. On this occasion, this hearing is being held on the day of the Night of Miraç... From here, I wish well-being to all humanity and the people of our country, our citizens, and our nation.

Of course, the essence of our religion is to be a good person. Being a good person makes every individual very strong. I am a citizen who has strived to be a good person in my own way. I have strived to represent this until this age. Shortly, we will talk about the period when I was 17, 18, and 19 years old. There, I will explain how I acted while trying to do my job well, striving to be a good person, and unfortunately, what kind of situation they wanted to put me in. Being a good person is truly important. There is a debated issue: the matter of religious people being good people... At the core of being a good person, there is truly reason, science, and manners. For example, there is no defaming people in front of the public; there is no polluting people's lives with public resources in a way that turns them upside down. Especially, it should never be done by the hand of the state. It should never be done by the hand of the judiciary. But today, I am here as an individual who experiences and is made to experience all these unethical practices.

You might think these are not related to our topics. Actually, it is a piece of the whole. It is such a piece of the whole that a portion of the judicial harassment we have been subjected to for over a year and the intense attacks and operations we have experienced in the judiciary actually includes the matter you will listen about here today. That is, there is intent, there is violence, there is the lack of a fair trial for people. There is an environment where the concept of the "natural judge" has been destroyed; I state this with regret. We have a very sacred duty. There is an atmosphere that will carry its sanctity to the most difficult conditions. We are living and being made to live through this. Therefore, if we are to take being a good person to the peak in society, we want this to start strictly from the management, administration, judiciary, legislature, and executive. We are giving a very bad test. I hope and pray that this bad test yields good results for our nation, society, and humanity on this beautiful day, and that we can all escape this vice as soon as possible. Morality... That is, not being a slave to a servant, the essentials of being a good person... Frankly, I even have a bit of a hard time saying these things in the presence of a court. But unfortunately, we are in such a world. Justice is the essence of a person and a nation standing tall. Because justice is the foundation of the possible. I sincerely hope that you protect, grow, and develop this concept and make good use of this historical opportunity, Mr. President.

My dear nation... First of all, I would like to state that; as I said, not just a hearing of a case is being held here today. The bond of trust between the state and the citizen must be judged here. Today, it is not a person's life that is being tested at this podium, but a country's claim to be a state of law. Because we are going through very bad days. In these bad days, wherever silence increases, we also experience the concept of oppression gaining courage. Those who hold power strive to gain strength from this silence, and lawlessness becomes reckless. Tyranny climbs to levels far beyond your imagination, becoming limitless. Today, we are faced with a form of tyranny never seen before. Let me express that I came here to fight on behalf of our nation against this mindset that can transcend and erode our institutions and eliminate the guarantee of all the achievements and securities that people have obtained through labor. I did not come here today to make a diploma defense. I am here today to tell how a life built by a young man believing in his state is being sought to be dismantled backward after 35 years.

My diploma, which is the registered and official quality of my labor, was canceled exactly 35 years later, ignoring all rules. The most ancient institutions of the state have been destroyed. This includes the judiciary, Istanbul University, and other institutions. This decision is not an action directed only at me. This decision has dropped the same question into the minds of millions: Is my title deed safe in this country? Is my diploma safe? Are my labor, my sweat, my money in the bank, all my gains, my dignity, and my honor safe or not? It is for this very reason that today I see myself in a position of responsibility not only on my own behalf but on behalf of 86 million people. This is never a personal legal struggle. I never have such a style of struggle. This defends the Turkish nation's faith in the law, the trust they have in their state, and their hopes for the future in this heavenly homeland. What is being defended here today is not a document, but the security of the law itself. Our historical responsibility is heavy. We will remind people of this many times. And in order not to remain silent in the face of oppression, I clearly express my determination in this struggle before the Supreme Creator on behalf of everyone who has not lost their sense of justice.

I express this because this struggle is the story of a young man who went to Cyprus at the age of 17, applied for a lateral transfer at the age of 19, made his application within the framework of the rights granted to him, completed the required documents fully, took the exams, passed them successfully, studied, graduated, and received his diploma. This struggle is the struggle of everyone who follows the rules, trusts the document given by the state, and builds their life on this trust. You are included in this too. You have also passed through different institutions and systems of the state and today you are sitting in these very ancient, very sacred seats before us. And that is exactly why I am here. I am fighting this struggle. Mr. President, I would like to specifically underline: I went to Cyprus at the age of 17. I enrolled in university. A year later, I learned that some of my friends had applied for lateral transfer and enrolled at Istanbul University. Thereupon, the following year, at the age of 19, I applied for lateral transfer to Istanbul University in accordance with the legislation in force and the application announcement published in the newspaper. Whatever was requested of me, I did. I submitted all the documents in full. Sometimes I say; I can't help but think 'what would have happened to me if I hadn't acted so meticulously, if a piece of the paper had been torn.' I can't help but think, 'What would these evils, this evil mind, this tyranny, these most miserable actions do if a corner of a piece of paper were torn? What would they carry out from here if I hadn't put a complete document?' A proficiency exam was necessary. I took the exams. I passed them successfully. I enrolled. I completed my courses successfully. I was exempted from exactly two courses. I started the second year with exactly 22 courses. I successfully completed 22 courses. I graduated and received my diploma, as halal as my mother's milk.

So what happened then? Exactly 30 years later, a CİMER (Presidential Communication Center) application was made by a citizen and my diploma was questioned. However, the matter did not stop there. Following the first application, several CİMER applications were made in succession. An education process that no one had made an issue of until now, and which the state had accepted many times, suddenly becomes controversial with these successive applications. Somehow, it became the subject of CİMER applications made in an organized manner. Despite these applications, the answer given by Istanbul University never changed. In its responses to CİMER, the university clearly stated that I graduated by fulfilling the admission conditions. In fact, there is a study by Istanbul University here. I want to show this here. Because this is a study conducted in October 2024. Underneath it is the rector's... Unfortunately, I express this with regret: The Rector! Not my university's rector, the rector. With the rector's signature, it explains here which regulation the transfer at that time belonged to, that it was the 1982 regulation, and that no recognition or equivalence was sought in that regulation. Pages of it. For example, a 9-page report was prepared and given. Everything is in this report. These exist, but I present to your attention: What happened that all these concepts changed in three or four months?

Mr. President, let what I have told stay aside. For a moment, forget my words and the defense. Because in this file, this document written by Istanbul University itself, the report titled "Lateral Transfer Information Note," is very important. In its own information note, which truly makes one say "this is too much," as I just stated, it says, "In 1990, lateral transfers were made by the decision of the faculty administrative board according to the legislation of the period." In other words, it says: "This is my action." As the university, as the faculty. In the same document, it says that in those years, unlike today, there were no recognition, equivalence, YÖK (Council of Higher Education) approval, or personal conditions. The 1982 regulation is before you, it's in the file, it's here. In other words, it says: The conditions you seek today did not exist back then. 35 years ago, the conditions you seek today were not there. There is no action specific to the person either. A huge process was carried out. Hundreds of people applied. It was done in the years before us. It was done in the years after us. It says you cannot take these rules and bring them down like a "sledgehammer" on the head of the 19-year-old youth of that day. This administrative board report I just showed says exactly this. Of course, with fabricated works, many troubles were brought upon this nation like a sledgehammer in the past. We know well which mind opened them, but in an environment where normal mind, normal administration, normal system, normal law, and normal administrative affairs are carried out, it says "you cannot bring this down on the head of a Turkish youth like a sledgehammer." And furthermore, it clearly writes that this practice was not exceptional but a settled and widespread practice. So we are talking about a corporate action applied for years and done for dozens of students.

And now the university, despite the information note it wrote itself, is being forced to deny its own actions. This is no longer a legal debate. This is the institution contradicting itself. It is a university trying to ignore a truth fixed by its own document due to political pressure. Just as I expressed in my opening sentences, we are right in the middle of the thin line between being a slave to a servant and not being one. Believe me, one can't help but ask: If even the information note prepared by Istanbul University itself is not enough, which document will be enough in this country? Which document will be valid? Which state document will the citizen trust? This is too much. Such oppression cannot be. Not much later. Exactly one month later, that is in October, this document comes out. Exactly one month later, a hand touches this process. How do these things go like this? Such a thing is not expected. So what happens that this 9-page report titled "Lateral Transfer Information Note" by Istanbul University, which finds the process lawful in every aspect, is suddenly turned upside down and a completely different process is initiated? Seeing this, a letter is written to YÖK on November 8, 2024, by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, by a handful of ambitious people who received political instructions. In this letter, it asks for an investigation into whether Ekrem İmamoğlu's diploma is in accordance with the procedure or not. Allegedly, it asks for it to be investigated. Then do you know what happens? YÖK, on January 16, 2025, this time based on the letter from the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, sends a letter to Istanbul University and says they have started an investigation into my diploma. In other words, the process evolves in a completely different direction after the prosecutor's letter, not with CİMER applications.

The person who received the instruction gets into works much bigger than his stature. And for some reason, Istanbul University, which said "The graduation is in accordance with the procedure" for years, gets flustered this time. It acts in haste. It has the information note, the study. It was worked on at length, a nine-page report was written in haste. On January 27, it sends all information and documents about me to YÖK. Of course, it is not hard to guess what will happen after this. On February 17, 2025, it makes a decision about a 35-year-old diploma and says "Lateral transfer procedures are not in accordance with the procedure." Look at the intensity of the pressure. Look at the institutions of the state. Can there be such a flip-flop? Can there be such an imbalance when the documents are so clear, I mean, the edges, the borders, everything is so clear. There is no issue based on interpretation. In other words, regarding my diploma, which is as halal as my mother's milk and has been valid for 35 years, a conclusion of non-compliance with the procedure can be reached comfortably and shamelessly within 21 days. Whoever those shameless people are, I will give my legal struggle until the last drop to hold them to account throughout my life.

35 years later, suddenly, in haste, and not enough, before even a month passed, the Istanbul University Administrative Board met. On March 18, 2025, my 35-year-old diploma was taken back with "nullity" and extremely heavy exceptional justifications. That is, on March 18, my 35-year-old diploma was canceled. Let me remind you of something here. On March 18, that is, one day before the March 19 operation, the individuals and persons who hurriedly got involved in works bigger than their stature, those who received instructions, gave such an instruction that; in Ankara, on March 17, by the hand of the gendarmerie, they hurriedly took the general secretary in Cyprus, who is over 70 years old, from his home in the morning. On the 17th, he was taken by the gendarmerie and his statement was taken. What kind of pressure was he subjected to on March 12 that the Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration at Istanbul University had to resign from the deanship? One week before. I mean, let everyone understand what happened in this one week. I mean, I look at the works done, the procedures, the statements to gather at the university, and again the irregularity of the administrative board formed by the university, the rushed decision-making processes. Oh, what is happening? What is intended to be done? What is this urgency? I mean, what crime, what has been done? What is slipping away? I experienced an atmosphere that is impossible to describe. This method is not an ordinary process.

Of course, I will not go into details. But now, in this hall, in accordance with the law, I will present the truth step by step, with documents, on how I received this diploma with my labor and by trusting all official procedures of the state. Everything starts with an official announcement published in a national newspaper on behalf of the Istanbul University Rectorate. An announcement was made by the Istanbul University Rectorate, open to the public, in one of the two or three best-selling newspapers in Turkey in the 1980s, Milliyet Newspaper. In other words, there is no work or action special to Ekrem İmamoğlu. The same thing was done in previous years. It is done in the years after me. Everything is written here. Everything. And everything that is written says, "It is an action suitable for everything written." An official announcement. In the announcement, with the title "From the Istanbul University Rectorate," the procedures and principles of lateral transfer between Higher Education Institutions were announced to the public. The sought-after qualities, application conditions, dates, and documents were listed one by one. Everything is clear, public, and not hidden. In other words, no one's daughter or son made a lateral transfer or transfer somewhere secretly. No special transfer processes were carried out. Ekrem İmamoğlu was also one of the innocent youths of that period. My friend from university is here. They are still here. The university initiated the process with its will, based on the legislation, and announced this through one of the newspapers with the highest circulation in the country.

With the claims directed at me today, it is as if this announcement never existed. However, this announcement was published years ago, not by any initiative of mine, but by the university's own decision. It is neither certain who this applicant would be, nor is it certain who would benefit from this right. I mean, none of these can be predicted. They cannot be known. There is no such thing. It's not certain who comes with the announcement. It's not certain who applies. It's not certain how many people apply. There is nothing planned. It's public. The announcement is open to everyone. Am I predicting my future while I am still a 17, 18-year-old student? Was a special preparation made for me by saying "Ekrem İmamoğlu will be the president"? Can the scenarios put forward today, these scandals, these evils, these made-up things, explain the existence of these announcements? The truth is this: There is neither a secret plan in the middle, nor a preparation special to the person, nor works carried out behind the scenes. In the middle, there is only a clear and lawful process initiated by the university for everyone two years in advance and announced in the newspaper. I am one of the thousands of students who acted by seeing this announcement, trusting this announcement, and believing in the rules set by the state itself.

Now there is one more document. I wrote it personally in my own handwriting. This is my application document. There is neither addition nor concealment. There is even extra information. Nor is there an intention between the lines. The petition is clear, simple, and in accordance with the procedure. Even when read today, it reflects exactly a student's address to his state. Very respectfully, very carefully. 19 years old. While reading all these things I've told, let everyone comment for their child of appropriate age, comment for their sibling, let their own life pass before their eyes. Please listen to this. In my petition, I said: "In the 1988-89 academic year, I finished first the preparatory department and then the English Business Administration department of University College of Northern Cyprus (UCNC), which was accredited by Southeastern University Washington DC in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, without leaving any failed courses from the second year. I want to complete the rest of my education in the English Business Administration Department within your higher education institution. I submit for your necessary action." Underneath is my name, the date, and my signature. Its content is full. My expression is clear, my request is distinct. There is no secret expression in this petition. There is no misleading statement. On the contrary, the institution where I received education is clearly stated, which departments I completed are clearly written, and what my request is is clearly expressed. There is a process before you that asks for the use of a right recognized by the deanship, a right that emerged with an announcement given, not a grace from the state.

The claims directed at me today expect me to ignore this petition and ignore the good faith of the youth who wrote these lines. However, this petition is the clearest document of a student who trusts his state, follows the rules, and builds his life accordingly. My application petition is not a text left alone either. I said I acted meticulously and did extra work. I'm glad I did. It's so clear, so transparent... On the contrary, I also acted extremely meticulously. And we formed the parts of my application file in full. I added all documents related to the university I came from, my transcript, and even the promotional brochures of the university to my petition. Where did you come from? "Oh, this was written on the registration, that was written," etc., nonsense... It is shameful for the big YÖK and the big university to write this there by involving matters I have no knowledge of in this business. So sincere, so genuine... I mean, I have listed the brochures one by one here, I put them at the age of 19, I prepared the document by putting them inside. Did I hide them? No. I put them in the file in their clearest form. I repeat. What is in the file? There is the petition, there is the transcript. There are the brochures of the university he came from. Whatever documents the university requested in the newspaper announcement, I prepared exactly those. In fact, I didn't even stop there. I added even the brochures, which were not requested but were explanatory of the process, to the file. This is not concealment, but the most concrete indicator of clarity and good faith.

I specifically underline this: While going for the application, I presented whatever I needed to present to the university. The university said, "Bring these documents." And I provided them. I organized and delivered them. I neither left anything missing, nor hid anything, nor presented a forged document. What is seen when looking at this file is this: A transparent, open, meticulous application that follows the rules and even does more. Contrary to what is claimed, this file is not a concealment file, but a clarity file. After my application reached the university with its petition and attachments, the process went completely out of my control anyway. From then on, it is under the authority and responsibility of the administration and the academic board. It has nothing to do with me. Istanbul University fulfilled this responsibility with great seriousness as well. I remember following it day by day like yesterday. I remember going to the school and asking "Was something posted? Was a document posted?" day by day, for kilometers, from the Anatolian side of Istanbul to the Avcılar of that day. The university did not accept the file directly; on the contrary, it assigned 3 instructors to evaluate the subject from its academic and legal aspects. 3 instructors looked at my file. Their signatures are there. These names are respected professors with academic titles in their fields. One of them is Professor Göksel Yücel, whom we remember with mercy today. He was an associate professor at that time. Others are Mahmut Paksoy, Serdar Küçükersun; they were also faculty members serving with the title of associate professor at that time. The document is here. It writes which courses I will take again, and underneath are the signatures of the three. And the courses I am exempt from are written. These professors examined the file, researched the university I came from, and evaluated the courses I took one by one. The result of this examination is also written.

The report clearly states the following: "It is appropriate for UCNC student Ekrem İmamoğlu to lateral transfer on condition that he takes the specified courses..." It says 'university' here. No other university wrote it. In other words, there is no deficiency, no mistake, no automatic process. There is no blind acceptance, no arbitrary decision. The file was examined by academics, conditions were set, and a positive opinion was given depending on the conditions. The decision is not mine, it is the decision of the university's authorized academic staff. The claims directed at me today speak as if this examination was never made. However, there is a clear truth here: The university researched, the university evaluated, and the university set conditions. And the university made the acceptance decision by using its own academic authority. After this stage, I am no longer the person who needs to be talked about. Mr. President, Honorable Members; because the administration is the one that made the decision. Not me. I have done my part one by one. Everything is here. I am facing a forgery case. Forgery in documents! Which document is forged? Which document is forged? As I said; I'm glad the edge of a page is not torn. Think about the situation the judiciary has fallen into. Shameful. The administration is the one to make the decision. The student applies and presents his document. After that, all authority to accept or not belongs to the university. Istanbul University did not change a decision after accepting me to the university, no fraud was committed, and no document change was made. It is what it is.

Look; even on the student certificate I received on February 20, 1991, about six months later, it is written here: "Transferred from TRNC Northern Cyprus University" It's written here. 6-7 months later. In other words, nothing has changed. In other words, the administration did not change a decision either. "That was written later," "it happened here"... There is no such thing. The truth is there. It says: "He came as a transfer in the second year from UCNC university." Now, as I said, there are so many documents; in this one, too, there is another student certificate from 1991. Here again, it is written: "The student in question has come to our faculty as a transfer from the second year of TRNC Northern Cyprus University." Again 7-8 months later, in '91. I don't have a changing concept, I don't have a document, everything is clear. I am a student. What do I know about registration? I am not on the other side of the counter. I gave a document. I am not the addressee of this error either. Moreover, I don't think this is a matter that concerns the transaction anyway. The university gave me the document saying, "You came from this university," everything is clear. This is clear in the documents I received on multiple dates. In other words, it is shameful for the person at the head of a university and some members of the judiciary to turn back today and say, "Why didn't you write it like this on the registration?" and to take this into consideration and write it. It is shameful to speak over Ekrem İmamoğlu. It is unethical, it is a pity, it is a sin. Regardless of his age, stature, academic career, or personal position... Whether in the judiciary, in other institutions, or in YÖK, it doesn't matter... It is unacceptable. It is unacceptable legally and unacceptable conscientiously.

Truly, sometimes one sees the claims rise to such a level that one is at a loss for words. A picture is drawn as if an 18-year-old university student predicted what would happen in the future and the registration was kept accordingly. Mr. Judge, these are truly not things to be taken seriously. It is shameful for you and Turkey, for our whole nation, to be occupied with such a matter right now. Therefore, you have a historical responsibility. Your historical responsibility is heavy. Because there is no act in the middle. There is no hidden information. There is no conflicting document. Only this is clear: This student came from here and is also a student of this university. I truly find it difficult to find a situation to defend myself. Because there isn't one. There isn't. Therefore, our responsibility is heavy. Among the attachments of my application file, there are not only the petition and promotional documents. Here is the transcript document of the university I came from. All of them are here. Clear, official, documented. What score did I get from the exams? I didn't fail any course. I made my application with a GPA of 2.5 out of 4. In other words, zero deficiency. In other words, I am applying as a student who is in a position above the transfer conditions, with extra points. In the attachment of the application petition, one of the documents I submitted to the university at the very beginning is the courses taken by the student, the academic status... And I did exactly that. I put the most basic document in the file in full.

As I just explained, this transcript was examined by the university and evaluated one by one. It also determined which courses would be exempt and which courses would be taken in the document I just gave. As I said, I started the second year with 22 courses. If claims such as "This document was missing, this information was not known" are put forward today, these claims truly have no meaning in the face of this transcript. Already the requested document is clear in the announcement I just showed; I have given all of them one by one. In summary, I say: Everything is in the file. To turn back today and say "Information was missing, the university was misled" does not even comply with the university's own actions. This can only be done with bad faith, with bad faith. It can be done with the intent of a plot. It can be done with the intent of setting an ambush for someone, with the intent of setting a trap. They are committing a crime. Regardless of my conditions and my position, I take my oath again here that I will give my struggle for seeking rights before the law until the end against every crime committer one by one throughout my life.

The process did not end only with document delivery. After my application, Istanbul University said: "You want to enter the English department, I also need to do a level placement." Because they made an issue of this too. Its document is in the file, we presented it here. I kept each of these in my archive. As a person at the age of 18 or 19, all of these are in my hand. If I hadn't done this, they could have deceived me through the school. I had all of them in my hand. I had all of them in my hand. I kept them all for 35 years. It's shameful; I say this. The university could have deceived me. It could have said "It doesn't exist," it could have removed one from the file. I'm glad I kept these. It would have done it. I cannot describe my anger, Mr. Judge. I am not describing my 55-year-old anger; I cannot describe my 18-19-year-old anger. Do you know that the anger of a 19-year-old is greater? I will talk to you about the youth, about the anger of the youth. Whatever the university deemed necessary, I fulfilled them all. I also took its exam. The university did not make a decision as a fait accompli either. There is no fait accompli. There is this much detail. What do I say? There were days when I changed 8 vehicles, 11 vehicles just to go from Bağlarbaşı to Avcılar. It also measured language proficiency. And if there were something misleading, if there were a missing situation, would my university have invited me to such an exam? Would it have felt the need to test my academic proficiency? It takes me to the English department too. The lessons are in English. This exam, like all the stages I explained before, is an official process carried out by the university with its own will. There are the signatures of the precious professors I mentioned just now. May God have mercy, we lost one of our professors.

Therefore, the picture is now entirely clear. Being left face-to-face with the claim of irregularity years later shows that not the law, but legal security has become the subject of discussion. Beyond all these explanations, I want to show the most concrete reality of the file. Do you know what that is? It is my diploma, which is as halal as my mother's milk. This is my diploma. The university is going to take it back? Get out of here. Get out of here. It is going to take back this diploma of mine! This is the anger of the 18-year-old Ekrem, Mr. Judge. This diploma is an official state document given by Istanbul University with its own will by examining, researching, measuring, and accepting. State. It has considered it valid for years. All boards of the state have accepted it for years. Today, too, the date, signature, and seal on it are what they are. I am asked to ignore a document that has passed through all these processes. After I announced that I was a presidential candidate, my diploma, which had been valid for 35 years, was canceled. This is not an assumption, this is not an interpretation; this is a fact fixed by the calendar. Why does the administration, which has remained silent for 35 years, take action exactly after this statement of mine? After the statement... Moreover, how? One minute before the end of working hours. In the month of Ramadan, right before iftar. Shameless ones. The wretches acting unethically. Just as the cancellation of the election one hour before iftar in 2019, this is the same. That's why the nation dealt the slap of 806 thousand votes from 13 thousand votes. Or today it deals a slap of millions of votes. No one allows this lawlessness. That is why I am making a defense on behalf of the nation. Minutes before iftar, one minute before the end of working hours... In haste. Why? Because a shameful operation will be carried out one day later, and Ekrem İmamoğlu will be taken from his home in a dawn raid, along with his friends...

After all that has been told, I also have to touch upon another situation in the file. Mr. Judge, precious members; I am not presenting this as a means of proof. Because the file is already full of documents, there is nothing to be proven. I am presenting this only to underline how one-sided the debate is being conducted and that YÖK should be ashamed. Some people don't have university friends, but I have hundreds. My university friends would fill a football stadium. I have hundreds of university friends. Kaan is also my friend, my university friend from Cyprus. The university it was accredited to was giving us diplomas. That was the position of the university at that time, UCNC. I mean, a university that is in Washington. And we are studying on its campus. This is its template. Between 1986 and 1991, this friend of mine received university education there. And this friend of mine studied within the same academic structure in Northern Cyprus. He didn't transfer, he finished his school there. In fact, later, the school also issued an additional diploma to him as Girne American University. Because the name of the school changed later. It's not very important. But the main diploma is this. The education process and academic structure are the same. Our friend's diploma was never canceled. On the contrary; it is called recognition equivalence... This friend of mine applied to YÖK in 1995 and a document was clearly given to him by YÖK. A document was given saying "Your 1995 diploma is valid." A student friend who studied at the school I came from in 1986-1991. There are others as well, but I am giving this as an example.

In other words, the state speaks of a diploma that is valid for one graduate for the same period and the same education process. If the issue is truly the period, if the issue is truly the university, if the issue is truly the legal status; how will they explain the cancellation of the other's diploma years later while it is said to be valid for one graduate who studied within the same structure in the same period? YÖK gave it. Istanbul University Faculty of Business Administration accepted the other. YÖK gave this too. I am not the addressee of this question. The addressee of this question is the administration; not me. Mr. President, now if we want to see where the intent of this file is revealed, we don't need to look at assumptions, interpretations, or opinions; it is enough to look at the document. I mean, frankly, the crux of the matter, or the octopus's arms, or where the pipe goes "zırt"; whatever its name is, the essence of the matter is here now. I mean, the letter written by the prosecutor's office to Istanbul University. On February 24, 2025, it sends an official letter to Istanbul University. It threatens Istanbul University. It literally threatens it. And in this letter, it says exactly this: "The continued use of the subject diploma—in parentheses—(Supreme Election Council and the like)—closing the parentheses—and in this context, the necessary actions should be taken as soon as possible so that the works and transactions to be established by showing the diploma as a basis are not against the law..." Why is a university diploma needed at the YSK (Supreme Election Council)? It is needed to become a presidential candidate. Is there an election on that date? No. What is this rush? Is there any other style of revealing oneself like this with this instruction? Wretches. They are truly wretches.

Let's read these sentences one by one, let's read them slowly: "It is said that the subject diploma continues to be used..." Where? A parenthesis is opened: (Supreme Election Council) it says, and the parenthesis is closed. In other words, they are clearly saying: "This person can be a presidential candidate at any moment with this diploma. Then hurry up." Because the legislation is clear. Article 101 of the Constitution says; "The presidential candidate must have completed higher education." Article 6 of the Presidential Election Law No. 6271 says the same. And there is only one judgment in the Republic of Turkey where a university diploma is politically indispensable and decisive: presidential candidacy. There is only one place: Presidential candidate. Only and only in the presidential candidacy... That's why while it says "the diploma continues to be used" in this letter, (YSK) is specifically written in parentheses. This is not a legal reflex. This is not an audit either. This is the state of political alarm of a heavy political instruction. It has nothing to do with law or rule. It is the helplessness and wretchedness of political instruction, of what you know as serving as a slave, of going after that business by crawling on the ground. It is a shameful situation. "Hurry up," it says, "take action immediately." "It can be used at any moment." For shame! For shame. It's shameful! Don't you have courage? Don't you have courage to fight, to compete? How does he need this? This is not law, this is the peak of instrumentalizing the law. It is the peak of instrumentalizing the law. A prosecutor writes a letter to a university and says, "This person can be a candidate, cancel his diploma"... Can such a thing happen? This is threatening the famed Istanbul University politically, by the hand of the judiciary.

The mindset that wrote this letter also says it does this in the name of law. How can I be a matter of fear? Am I a man to be feared? I am not a weapon, I am not a threat. I am just a politician who strives to appear before the nation and gain approval from the nation. I am the Metropolitan Mayor who governs Istanbul and has received the votes of millions in Istanbul. It is an attempt to suffocate a possibility that could appear before the nation on the path of law before it is born. Just as the former Speaker of the Parliament expressed recently; that is, the mindset of cutting the head of the rooster that crows early! Can there be such a mindset? What is early, what is late? Will someone, one person, decide how a citizen or an institution will act? It is an attempt to legally disable a presidential candidate. History will write this. That is why I am making the defense of the state and the trust between the state and the citizens, not the diploma, at this podium. I am a child of this country. I built my labor and my life by trusting the rules set by this state and the documents it gave. And I worked and served with the diploma called "valid," and I continue to do so. No one will be able to prevent this.

The state turns back to me 35 years later and says: "The document I gave is invalid." This sentence is not said only to me; this sentence is said to the state of law. it destroys the state of law. This sentence is said to all vested rights. It is said to everyone here, to the title deeds of those who are not here, to their diplomas, documents, prosecutor's documents, judgeship documents; to everything, their money, their stamp, their account in the bank, their honor, their dignity. This sentence is said to the worker, the laborer, the aunt, the uncle of this country; to everyone. Do you think it is being said to me? No. Because behind that table sits the state. "I did not make the decision, the administration did!" I was only the addressee of that decision. Today, the administration denies its own signature. It wants me to pay the price for its own decision. If this is possible, what will any citizen trust in this country? Which institution will he trust? Which youth will be able to build his future with his diploma? Or which parent will be able to say "Read, my child, your rights will be protected"? This case is not a personal case. This case is a case of principle. The decision you make in this case will not be only about me. This decision will be the document according to how the law works, not according to whom. Therefore, your historical responsibility is heavy.

Mr. President, Honorable Members; we are experiencing the first administrative case held in Silivri. This also fell to my lot... It is very strange and very sad for the Supreme Turkish Judiciary to make this country experience such firsts. I feel sorry for the wretches who boast of building Europe's largest courtroom. I follow them with regret. They are wretches. But there is a limit to what is called coincidence. The calendar is clear, the dates the decision was taken are clear. The letter written by the prosecutor's office to the university is clear. The emphasis that it can be used in the Supreme Election Council is clear. In other words, it is clear why this business was done. What more can be said in terms of proving that a case is conducted with political motives? Everything is there, everything is clear. In its letters, the prosecutor's office did not write the intent, I mean, clearly, but it wrote it clearly. It is a document of shame. It is a document of shame on behalf of the Supreme Turkish Judiciary. It is a must that this state of shame be closed as soon as possible on behalf of the Supreme Turkish Judiciary. Of course, I mean, shall we do this now: Shall we set up a ballot box in the courtroom? Shall we write "Presidential Election" on it? I have never run away from the judiciary. I am not running away today either. We will give an account in the future as well. No problem. But I will also continue to prosecute against irregular practices. Whoever is doing those actions, whoever is bending this judiciary and the institutions of the country; I will continue my struggle with each of them endlessly. Because if we don't do this, we will all remain defenseless in this country. That's why I am here with my conscience. That's all I will say for now. Thank you.”

Ekrem İmamoğlu’s speech after lawyer statements

I would say this about these two defenses: Very shameful, very shameful, very saddening. Because do you know why? In this file, there is not even a single word presented to you about Ekrem İmamoğlu. What is there? I said; if the edge of this document were torn, they would even trample over that. There is such a psychology. (Judge: Tell us correctly.) I can tell the administration correctly, Mr. Judge. (Judge: But we are the addressees here.) I can directly tell it to the administration; don't do this. (Judge: But they are not the ones who decide.) It could be, sir, I am already telling you correctly. I can also tell it to the administration. I mean, is this something against the procedure? I am asking. (Judge: Okay, continue with your statements.) Okay. Thanks. Truly one says ‘enough’ to this. Because there is not a single word about me. It is disgraceful, shameful. Very shameful. I mean, are there instructors from 1988-89-90-91 or those concerned with the Higher Education Institution (YÖK) and their lawyers here and I don't see them? I mean, don't I see them? Who is being tried here? Or who? I mean, which topic is being discussed? I wonder over which topic it is being deliberated on. All negative examples are about after my lateral transfer. Shameful. Shameful. Shameful on behalf of Istanbul University. They continue with shameful actions.

As a person experiencing a truly ill-intentioned process, I condemn everyone who is instrumental to this again. And truly, we are before an understanding that says ‘justice is the foundation of the property.’ I have difficulty forming words. Shameful. Over an application given by 17-18-19-year-old people, hundreds of people, running with an announcement, turning back; it was like this, it was like that, it was so, it was such... There is not a single concrete evidence inside. They are all fabricated, like a story. I present concrete documents to you. (Pointing to the documents in his hand) Not a single sentence was formed about these. Not a single sentence was formed about the topics presented by Ekrem İmamoğlu. Justice is the foundation of the property. I mean, justice is truly the only legitimate source of state power. 35 years... Do you know we have experts among us, among those who graduated? What will happen to the decisions they gave in those courts? Hundreds, thousands... What will happen? Or what will happen to the students that our professor, who served as dean or instructor, passed and graduated? I am speaking as a citizen. I mean, we are truly faced with a shameful situation in this matter. As I said; I condemn everyone who is a vehicle for this. It is a pity, it is a sin. It is a pity for your profession. It is a pity for our country, for Istanbul University.

I mean, today we are looking for hope, we are looking for prosperity, we are looking for justice, we are looking for abundance, we are looking for work-jobs, and the only basis for this is justice. The country develops like this, it doesn't develop any other way. Look; the concept of the state of law is the most important support. You know, if you ask anyone, ‘What is the source of the solution to all problems?’: The state of law. If I were to read right now, here is the law faculty... If I were to listen to a lecture, as if explaining a lecture... They listed baseless theories that have no connection to the subject, of which they have no knowledge, on behalf of the university. It's saddening. The concept of ‘The law protects me’ is important. And truly when there is a sense of trust, people are peaceful. Mr. President, Honorable Delegation; 80 percent of this country does not trust justice. The burden on your back is heavy. Justice and the state of law are a bridge between the state and the nation; I express this again. I express this again; for 19-year-old Ekrem İmamoğlu, a ‘subjective good faith, objective good faith...’ A context of good faith is being established. With what? A context of good faith is not being established with me over the actions taken by the faculty. I mean, it's shameful. Shameful. A ‘context of good faith’ is being established for a 17-18-year-old youth. Shameful. A pity. A great pity.

And I received education at Istanbul University. I received education with labor. Not only me, but many of my friends. I entered classes and exams. And I graduated. Let me express again; has any wrong move by the 19-year-old Ekrem İmamoğlu been detected? No. Look, it was proven here too. No. One of my forgery cases, which was opened against me by the network that established this order of corruption, is also running. Its basis is also the statements and documents of Istanbul University. Is this lateral transfer that took place in '90 in accordance with the legislation of that period? Yes, it is. There is an information note from Istanbul University. Is there a concrete recognition like a university, ‘no equivalence approval’ or a list of recognized universities by YÖK for the lateral transfer made in the year '90? No. They can give the positive answers of the three previous positive, individual, university-focused question-answers as examples. And they are reading intent. Is there a decision or letter from YÖK before the year '90 regarding not recognizing Southeastern University Washington DC or UCNC? No. Are there a large number of students who lateral transferred from UCNC before '90? Yes. Are there students who started education before '90 and later received equivalence from YÖK? Yes. I showed one of them. Yes. You know, they are making YÖK the source, there is YÖK's document here; it has approved. Does it show that the education received at UCNC in '90 and before is recognized by YÖK? Yes. This network would go and try to cancel that too now. Was it established by the decision of the Council of Ministers in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus? Is it a valid and legal university? Yes.

One day before the cancellation, in a hurry, with the gendarmerie, the person named Özalp Tozan, who is over 70 years old was taken from his home... With what psychology, under what pressure, what kind of statement he gave... Where he also affiliates the work and connects it to Southeastern University as a campus. They even misinterpreted that. Again from this podium. Again under the name of the legal profession. They misinterpreted it and I condemn it. It's a shame. Why was he taken one day before the 18th, for example? Why? Couldn't they wait for 20 days? Wouldn't an announcement be made? What was there? Are you reading intent? Here you go; obvious, concrete intent? Thus you are reading the intent of the 18-year-old child 35 years ago and making comments over intent. It's a shame. It is shameful on behalf of my country and on behalf of the institution of Istanbul University. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus... You are making fun of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. ‘Company universities, whatever,’ etc... What is the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus? Is it a Turkish state that we describe as the apple of our eye, the ‘Baby Homeland’ and a precious state recognized by Turkey? Yes. I went there with a student certificate. In other words, Turkey gave me a student visa. Because I stayed for two years, upon return, with that visa, I mean with that two-year student certificate, with my document that I studied at university, the State of the Republic of Turkey gave me a document of the right to buy duty-free goods. This network, this gang, if they had it in their power, they would get a decision from the Parliament not to recognize the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus just so that Ekrem İmamoğlu does not become a presidential candidate!

A 19-year-old youth, a citizen of the Republic of Turkey, applies to the newspaper announcement of Istanbul University, a long-established public institution of the State of the Republic of Turkey, without doing anything wrong. He presents his documents in full and correctly. He is accepted. He works for four years, puts in effort, sheds sweat. 31 years later, although there is no fault, these efforts are tried to be ignored arbitrarily. You cannot explain this to any of our 86 million citizens. You cannot explain it to your children at home, to your child, to your spouse. That is why this case is not and will not be a person's diploma case. This case is a case seeking the answer to the question, is there still a state of law in Turkey or not? Is there a state of law or not? The intensity of the struggle I give against that handful of wretched and ambitious people who are trying to prove that it doesn't exist has grown even more today. And I clearly express this: This case is not the case where only 19-year-old Ekrem İmamoğlu is tried. This case is the case where the question ‘Is the Turkish state of law standing?’ is tried. And it will go down in history with its absurdity. Just like that ‘forgery’ case, just like the ‘espionage’ case, just like the ‘İBB’ (Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality) case, it will go down in history. The decision you give, Mr. President and Honorable Delegation, will go down in history. Whatever decision you give, it will go down in history.

Istanbul University... The history of Istanbul University goes back to the Sahn-ı Seman madrasas established by Fatih Sultan Mehmet in 1453. 1453... It is one of the oldest educational institutions in the world. Istanbul University gained its university identity in the modern sense with the 1933 reform. Istanbul University is a public institution. The principle of the integrity of the administration is an inseparable part of the state. Do you know what Istanbul University is? It is the state, the state. It cannot victimize its people; it is the state. And being the state is not only using authority. It is carrying responsibility. The nation must be able to trust the works done by the state. When a 19-year-old student sees that Istanbul University, a public institution, has accepted his lateral transfer application, when he enrolls and puts in effort for 4 years, when he passes all his exams, when he graduates, he must trust the diploma given by Istanbul University. He should be able to trust it. 35 years later... Do you know what the opposite is? The opposite is the state setting a plot for the citizen. It is the state standing away from the citizens. It is the state taking the citizens hostage. It is the state destroying all the acquisitions of the citizens, do you know? The opposite means making the citizen pay the price of the state's own mistake, if any.

We have just listened to the claims about the institution's errors here. Ekrem İmamoğlu is not mentioned even as a single word. I said; if a piece of one of my papers were torn, they would trample over that! Saddening. I would have liked to hear other things from the administration, despite everything. The opposite; it means that the citizen lives at every step thinking, ‘I wonder if this transaction of the state will be considered invalid tomorrow.’ Can there be trust in such a place? Can there be peace in such a place? Can the state-nation bond stay standing in such a place? Can there be bread in such a place? Can there be abundance? Can the retiree have a livelihood? Can the child have a future? Can you find hope in the youth? Can such a thing happen? The state must protect its citizens, not trap its citizens. Protecting its citizens... The state is mercy. The state is compassion. The state is just. That is why I am here. That is why this case is not only a case of administrative affairs, Mr. Judge, Mr. President. This case is an important case. It is a historical case. You have also taken on a historical responsibility. The nation's trust in the state is being tested right here right now. One of the most fundamental pillars of a state of law is the principle of ‘legal security.’ The natural result of this principle is the concept of ‘vested right.’ When the state establishes a transaction and grants you a right, this right does not become only your right. It now evolves into another dimension. It expresses the guarantee that ‘in terms of public order, in terms of society, in terms of other individuals, this right cannot be taken back arbitrarily.’ Also, my struggle is a great struggle given against the initiatives that instrumentalize state institutions and betray them by canceling my diploma unlawfully at the request of one person.

Now I want to ask a very human question from here: If the 19-year-old Ekrem knew that 31 years later, although he had no fault, his diploma would be canceled, what would he do? He would probably continue his education at UCNC without interruption. Because the truths known at that time are these: Graduates of Girne American University are directly given a Southeastern University diploma. This university also has equivalence in YÖK in its period. I have friends here who received equivalence. Here, live. Not the one I presented the document of, this is another. He has received his equivalence. It is also fixed that YÖK recognized equivalence for UCNC graduates whose name was Southeastern University Washington DC in the period I would graduate. I explained and presented concrete examples. And if I had graduated then, today I would have had a diploma with equivalence received; period. Can such a thing happen? Does the state set a plot? Does it set a trap? As I said; my friends of the same age received their diplomas and built their lives. No lawsuit was filed about any of their diplomas. (Turning to his friends) I am also reporting to you by the way. The diploma of a person who made lateral transfer from UCNC, chose the harder way, put in effort for four years at Istanbul University, one of Turkey's most established universities, passed his lessons, passed his exams, is being canceled. Can such an injustice happen in a state of law? To whom would you explain this? That is why accepting the cancellation of my diploma means accepting that the state can set a plot for the nation; period. If Istanbul University had not accepted my lateral transfer from the beginning, the event would have evolved somewhere else. We are talking about 35 years ago. I mean, did the giant state trap a 19-year-old youth because he did the right thing? Was I trapped because I did the right thing?

The task of the state is not to be a partner in this unbelievable plot set for a 19-year-old student by a power that forces the law years later. The task of the state is to stop this initiative through the independent judiciary and to protect the law. Your responsibility is heavy, it is great. Every decision you take will come with you. This is exactly my objection. In a well-intentioned and prudent management practice, did the rector, did Istanbul University, which has the most established law faculty, not have the opportunity to form the examination commission from its most competent lawyers in such a vital matter regarding administrative law? It did. Did he do it? No, he didn't. He didn't. What was the purpose? Because we knew it would hit a wall. A pity. This is clearly a matter of administrative law and education legislation. But who is there? There is a medical oncology specialist, an economist, a theater instructor! I have to say it. What does this picture have to do with reason, with science? I know clearly that the person who is a political opponent is also inside. I know clearly that political opponents are inside. With their own statements and their own pasts.

What is the matter being examined, for God's sake? ‘The lawfulness of administrative affairs in the year '90!’ Which discipline's subject is this? Law. They should have been there. Lawyers should have been there. That's why I; care, honesty, and good faith... Good faith was questioned here for 30 minutes. I don't even question it. It is plain as day. It's very clear. Therefore, I mean, if you cannot overcome the psychology of 80 percent of this society, Mr. President, precious Delegation, the psychology of 80 percent not believing in justice, it would be a pity for this country. Does it start from here? Yes, it starts from here. Of course, it continues with other cases, with practices all over Turkey. It would be a pity for this country, a pity. No one can look at the face of his child. I mean, I hear, I listen to what kind of trace the ‘diploma case’ has left in the ears of children and young people in society specifically. I mean, a youth preparing for university is saying this right now. ‘I don't trust,’ he says. ‘I don't trust my state, its institutions,’ he says. I mean, the understanding that if it goes against one person's grain, if it's contrary to one person's interests, he cancels everything he wants, is becoming dominant in this country. It's a pity. Can such a thing happen? Who are we? We are mortal. We come and go. There is no business from father to son in this country. The nation decides everything. These days will also pass very quickly, let me tell you. Those who do these things to us are in great betrayal against the youth.

They are questioning my transfer at that time. It was a foundation, it was private, it was this, it was that, it was such, it was so, etc. Today education is done in the country! They damaged the education system. Universities have turned into centers for delaying unemployment. Therefore, I hope that; this diploma plot they organized just because I am a presidential candidate, because they are afraid of losing their seats, will collapse. I hope so. Sooner or later it will collapse. But I hope that it collapses rapidly from this process onwards, that it drops from the agenda. The honorable Turkish judiciary will emerge from this difficult test by protecting right and law. It will emerge by protecting the honor of the judiciary. Today if you ask a 10-year-old child, ‘Why was Ekrem İmamoğlu's 31-year-old diploma canceled,’ he would say, ‘Because he will win the upcoming presidential elections.’ A 10-year-old child gives you this answer. Go, ask thousands of people on the street. A lady stopped me in Çekmeköy 2-3 weeks before this operation was carried out. ‘Why are you crying out? You are making an uproar that my diploma will be canceled,’ she said. By saying that she is a member of the current ruling party, saying that she took a high-level task in the party... ‘No one can cancel your diploma either. Deal with other things,’ she said. ‘Okay,’ I said, ‘If they do, I am waiting for you by my side, lady, sister,’ I said. But what she said did not happen. It was canceled. A lady in the market told me this clearly.

(Judge: Not to the audience, to us please.) Mr. Judge, I am turning for 10 seconds, excuse me. They are not the audience, they are my friends. I mean, don't do this. We are not turning anywhere. Our direction is the same. Straight. Don't worry at all. If you ask 86 million of our citizens, believe me you will get the same answer. If you ask the youth, you will get the same answer. If you ask lawyers, academics, business people, tradespeople, someone poor who sells water here, you will get the same answer. When you put your head on the pillow in the evening, if you ask your conscience, you will give the same answer. It's very clear. Am I reading intent? Yes, I am. That is why my diploma was canceled for political motives. Moreover, this intent was done without even feeling the need for concealment. The petition I showed just now... It says ‘You must hurry, otherwise İmamoğlu will give this diploma to the Supreme Election Council, he will be a candidate.’ This is a document of shame. This document written by the prosecutor's office to Istanbul University is a document of shame. It has gone down in history. They think they are doing a favor... In a process where they are lined up before those they received orders from, by crawling on the ground, by kissing the ground, they think they did a favor! Neither to the state nor to that person... They are doing evil. There is only one office in Turkey where a university diploma is mandatory, and that is the office of the presidency, Mr. President. The prosecutor's office did not hide this either.

Therefore, please make a decision in accordance with the law. I want to wholeheartedly believe that you will make a decision in accordance with the law, conscience, and sense of justice, and that you will carry this process to a correct point in the name of the state of law. I want to clearly express my hope and faith here that you will stand on the right side of history. I know; there will be pressures. There may be. I know; phones will ring, messages will come. You will lose sleep at night. I know all of these. But do not forget this: All the effort you have given throughout a lifetime can disappear with a single decision or can come with you throughout a lifetime. Because you are in a very noble duty. You are obliged to give this duty and this seat its due. (Judge: We decide according to our impartial and conscientious opinion. No one should have any doubt about this.) I am not expressing that there is no doubt, but my wish, exactly as you said. Throughout your life, you will be remembered only with this decision. Your children, your grandchildren, your family, and this nation will remember you only with this decision. With the decision in this file, you will go down in history; good or bad, positive or negative. Whatever the pressures are, my only request from you is as I expressed just now; stay on the side of law, justice, conscience, and democracy. Stay on the right side of history. That is my only wish, my only request. History is giving you a great opportunity. Standing on the right side of history with courage and honesty is the greatest legacy we will leave to your future and to this nation. According to me; you have the opportunity to bury the point reached by this scandal and this evil into history with law and justice. This decision will affect and save not only today but also tomorrow.

Therefore, today is a historical day and it is one of the historical moments. If this opportunity is used correctly, no one will dare to do such evil to the children of a nation, to eat the rights of others. That is when this nation does not accompany this evil, does not become a partner in this injustice. Therefore, neither history remains silent, nor the nation remains silent. Sometimes there are those who bring issues to the agenda with grudge, hatred, envy, with their own interests, and run after them. But I would like to make a reminder. I was not thinking of it but it is suitable for the special spirit of today. The Holy Quran says: ‘O you who have attained to faith! Stand out firmly for God, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to piety: and fear God. For God is well-acquainted with all that you do.’ You can read this in the eighth verse of Surah Al-Ma'idah. I wholeheartedly wish that you make a decision in accordance with both beliefs, our belief, and the ancient culture of these lands, and the nobility of our state. As I said; I also condemn on my own behalf everyone who made me experience this evil and who are the chains of this, and who defend it.