In the case filed by President Erdoğan against CHP Chairman Özgür Özel for his words “Erdoğan without a diploma”, the judge requested that the diploma be presented to the court. President Erdoğan’s lawyer requested the recusal of the judge on the grounds that “the judge has personal curiosity about the issue”

Source: https://www.birgun.net/haber/erdogan-in-avukatindan-reddi-hakim-talebi-hakimin-konuya-yonelik-sahsi-meraki-var-695539

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan filed a lawsuit against CHP Chairman Özgür Özel due to the slogan “Erdoğan without a diploma” chanted during the protests organized by the CHP in Bayrampaşa, Istanbul on August 13, 2025. The lawsuit filed by Erdoğan demanding 500 thousand TL non-pecuniary damage was heard at Ankara 44th Civil Court of First Instance.

At the preliminary examination hearing, the judge reminded that among the statements made in the case was the claim that the plaintiff did not have a diploma, and stated that the plaintiff did not submit his diploma to the file. The judge gave the parties time to present evidence.

A remarkable dialogue also took place at the hearing. The clerk, who tried to file the two cases filed by President Erdoğan against CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, in the same court, said that the UYAP system was working slowly. The judge asked, “Is there a problem with UYAP?” In response to the question, the President’s lawyer noted that the President has a lot of files and that “Especially the prosecutors work very well.” The trial judge said, “I wonder if our prosecutors work very well for all citizens or only for your client?” he asked.

It was learned that President Erdoğan’s lawyer requested the recusal judge one month after the hearing. In the justification of the request, it was stated that the court judge was trying to initiate an investigation into President Erdoğan’s diploma, and it was argued that “the judge has a personal suspicion and curiosity regarding the issue.”