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


Related News

Coexistence Awards largely honor Turkey’s minority groups

MAHİR ZEYNALOV, İSTANBUL The Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV) has largely honored Turkey’s minority groups and oppressed voices with its landmark 4th Coexistence Awards in the hopes of giving a stimulus to those promoting peaceful coexistence with a sustained effort despite scarce resources. The awards ceremony attracted thousands of spectators, including officials, intellectuals and public […]

Bittersweet joy for teachers amid prep schools conflict in Turkey

Zaman columnist Ali Ünal expresses how prep schools by the Hizmet movement were established under difficult circumstances under the leadership of Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen. Preps schools prevent students from falling into bad habits by giving them both life and schools lesson at the same time at reasonable prices, writes Ünal.

Bad temper

Things are not going well in this country, which is governed by the interpersonal relations of nepotism. The relatives of ruling party figures are praised and offered important positions. Lies, slanders, insults, threats and blackmailing…

PM Erdoğan’s arguments on prep schools contradict statistics, facts

PM Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said during a live TV interview on Wednesday night that his ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) will not back down from its decision to close prep schools and listed his government’s arguments, many of which contradict official data, statistics and results of surveys carried out on the issue. According to surveys, 85 percent of the families who send their children to prep schools are low-income families.

PM Erdoğan confesses to creating ‘super judges’ for anti-Hizmet plot

The PM Erdogan has been harshly criticized for his remarks by observers and legal experts, who agree the remarks have come as a clear indication that the prime minister is directly involved in a planned legal action against a civil society group — the Hizmet movement. According to the prime minister’s plans against Hizmet, it is already clear which court and judges will handle the legal case against the movement.

3-year-old child with fever denied treatment as father under arrest over Gülen links

A three-year-old child with high fever has been denied treatment at a hospital since his father was arrested over alleged links to the Gülen movement, leading a suspension in the kid’s subscription to the nation-wide social security system.

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

In Case You Missed It

Erdogan: Turkey’s man of mystery armed with extra powers

Enes Kanter – A Dervish in the NBA

Conference on Gülen’s thoughts on ideal society being held in Pakistan

TUSKON brings together businesswomen from Turkey, Russia

‘TUSKON is a reliable and long-time friend of ours’

A study tour of Turkey with Gulen movement

JWF strongly condemns this terrorist attack on the Charlie Hebdo

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News