In the midst of a burgeoning diploma forgery scandal that has embroiled the Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University (KSTU) and cast a shadow over the higher education sector in Northern Cyprus, Canev Tatar, daughter of Turkish Cypriot Leader Ersin Tatar, has come forward to assert the legitimacy of her academic credentials.
Canev Tatar found herself compelled to defend the authenticity of her diploma after revelations surfaced that she had received a diploma from KSTU in 2022, following her participation in a “pedagogical training programme.” The university has been at the center of a crisis, with allegations of widespread diploma certificate forgery.
In a determined effort to clear her name, Tatar took to Facebook to affirm that her diploma is genuine. She recounted her academic journey, noting her graduation from the University of the Arts London in 2015 and her subsequent career as a children’s book author between 2016 and 2019. Tatar also highlighted her engagement in various artistic and personal development activities for adults and children in her studio post-pandemic.
Expressing her disappointment with the scandal surrounding KSTU, Tatar emphasized that she had invested “effort and time and trust” in her studies at the university. She lamented the impact of the allegations on her reputation, stating, “I feel very offended and angry at the groundless and unfounded accusations which have been made against me since I am a relative of the President.”
To substantiate her claims, Tatar shared evidence on social media, including WhatsApp screenshots of conversations with fellow students and teachers, an email with an attached PowerPoint presentation, and images of her group project submission. Additionally, she presented her degree certificate from the University of the Arts London alongside her KSTU diploma certificate.
The scandal has led to several high-profile arrests linked to KSTU, including former ‘education minister’ Kemal Durust and his wife Meray Durust, who allegedly obtained a fake diploma from the university. Accusations have also been leveled against Yodak chairman Turgay Avci and former board member Mehmet Hasguler for allegedly accepting bribes during the accreditation process for KSTU’s medical school. All individuals involved are currently out on bail.
As the investigation into the “fake diploma scandal” continues, stakeholders in Northern Cyprus’s higher education system are awaiting further developments. Canev Tatar’s public defense adds another layer to the unfolding narrative, highlighting the personal toll such scandals can take on individuals caught in their wake.
