OKC Thunder’s Enes Kanter laughs off being called a terrorist by Turkish government

Thunder center Enes Kanter, who was detained in a Romanian airport last week after the Turkish government canceled his passport, is being labeled a terrorist by government officials in his home country. Kanter is an outspoken critic of Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Thunder center Enes Kanter, who was detained in a Romanian airport last week after the Turkish government canceled his passport, is being labeled a terrorist by government officials in his home country. Kanter is an outspoken critic of Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.


Date posted: May 31, 2017

STEFAN BONDY

OKC Thunder center Enes Kanter has been accused in Turkey of being a terrorist and has a warrant out for his arrest, according to a report from a pro-government Turkish newspaper.

This stems from Kanter’s public disapproval with the current Turkish regime and his support for the “Gulen Movement,” which was blamed by the president for a failed military coup attempt in 2016.

According to the report from The Daily Sabah — which is widely recognized as a mouthpiece for the government — the warrant alleges Kanter has been active on an encrypted messaging app for members of the Gülen movement. The report claimed Kanter is “a member of a terrorist organization.”

Kanter, however, doesn’t seem very concerned. He tweeted a screenshot of the report Sunday morning with his own commentary that included laughing emoji faces and a line saying the government can’t catch him and is wasting its time.

Because of his outspoken political beliefs, Kanter was disowned by his father and his Twitter account is blocked in Turkey.

Thunder center Enes Kanter, who was detained in a Romanian airport last week after the Turkish government canceled his passport, is being labeled a terrorist by government officials in his home country. Kanter is an outspoken critic of Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

His passport was also revoked by Turkish officials and, as a result, Kanter was detained last week in Romania. He has called Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish president, the “Hitler of this century.”

Kanter, 25, is in the U.S. on a green card and is hoping to become an American citizen. He said he hasn’t spoken to his family in about two years.

Source: Daily News , May 27, 2017

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