Controversy whirls around allegations of doctoral titles being acquired illicitly in Turkey
In a shocking turn of events, Turkey is grappling with a large-scale diploma forgery scandal that has rocked the nation. According to reports, more than 199 suspects have been charged for allegedly falsifying university degrees on a massive scale.
The scandal came to light when complaints were first made at a university in Ankara as early as late 2024. Since then, affected institutions have included the BTK communication authority, the Ministry of Education, and numerous universities.
At the heart of the controversy is Deputy Minister of Transportation Omer Fatih Sayan, who holds ten degrees and two doctorates. Despite doubts about his credentials, Sayan dismissed them, stating that he has been studying his entire life and continues to do so.
One of the most controversial cases involves a carpet cleaner who was practicing as a psychologist. He admitted to the media that he had completed a psychology degree abroad and had only asked a company to recognize it in Turkey, but the company created a new diploma from a Turkish university without his consent.
Investigative journalist Murat Agirel criticized the government for wanting to suppress further revelations, fearing that prominent politicians might be involved. Agirel believes that the forged documents, which were stored in the electronic state where Turks can handle all their bureaucratic affairs, were not difficult to obtain. One could easily order a diploma via WhatsApp, and advertising was done through social media.
Computer science professor Murat Kirik described the situation as a scandal and believes the fraudsters acted comprehensively and organized. Investigations have led to the dismantling of the criminal organization and the arrest of its members, who gained access to high-ranking officials' access codes, allowing them to manipulate state databases.
The incident has sparked both laughter and outrage, as it was revealed that the culprits deleted the data of lawyers who died in the 2023 earthquake and used it for their clients. The magnitude of the issue goes far beyond what is known, according to Veysel Ulusoy, former chair of the Institute of Social Sciences at Yeditepe University in Istanbul.
Trials are set to begin in September, and it is assumed that this is only the tip of the iceberg, with the identities of those behind the manipulations and the extent of political involvement still unclear. The government has acknowledged around 60 fake degrees and over 100 fake driver's licenses, but it remains to be seen how many more will be uncovered as the investigation continues.
