Failing to arrest outspoken NBA star, Turkish gov’t detains father


Date posted: June 3, 2017

Turkish police on Friday detained Prof. Dr. Mehmet Kanter, father of NBA Oklahoma City Thunder player Enes Kanter, who the government seeks to arrest over links to the Gülen movement, the Birgün daily reported.

According to the report, Kanter’s father was detained in Kadıköy as part of an investigation into the Gülen movement, which the government accuses of masterminding a failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016, launched by the Tekirdağ Public Prosecutor’s Office.

“HEY WORLD MY DAD HAS BEEN ARRESTED by Turkish government and the Hitler of our century He is potentially to get tortured as thousand others,” tweeted Enes Kanter on Friday.

The elder Kanter will be taken to Tekirdağ province.

Professor Kanter was earlier dismissed from Medeniyet University’s faculty of medicine in 2016.

An investigation is being carried out into NBA Oklahoma City Thunder player Enes Kanter by an İstanbul prosecutor on charges of membership in an armed terrorist organization, Turkish media reports said on Friday.

Last month İstanbul Public Prosecutor Can Tuncay issued an arrest warrant for the younger Kanter for on charges of membership in an armed terrorist organization.

“You can’t catch me. Don’t waste your breath. I will come on my own will anyway, to spit on your ugly, hateful faces,” Kanter said in a Twitter post accompanied by a photo of a story by the Sabah newspaper about the warrant.

A critic of Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan, Kanter was detained at the airport in Bucharest on May 20 when authorities learned his Turkish passport had been revoked. He returned to the United States shortly thereafter.

At a press conference the following day, the 6-foot, 11-inch center for the Oklahoma Thunder called Erdoğan the “Hitler of our century.”

Sabah had reported that Kanter was deemed a “fugitive” by a Turkish court for his support of Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999. Turkey has accused Gülen and the movement he inspired of masterminding a failed coup in Turkey last July, a charge he and the movement strongly deny.

Kanter is accused by the court of using a smart phone application known as ByLock and praising the movement from his social media accounts.

The İstanbul Public Prosecutor’s office has reportedly applied to Turkey’s Justice Ministry to ask Interpol to issue a red notice for Kanter, which would prevent him from traveling.
Kanter said he has become a target of President Erdoğan because he has been an outspoken critic.

Twenty-four-year-old Kanter is one of the most famous Turkish basketball players in the NBA. His family disowned him after he pledged support to Turkish Islamic scholar Gülen.

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin officially declared Oct. 29, 2016 “Enes Kanter Day” for the professional success of the Oklahoma City Thunder player and his dedication to civic organizations in the state.

Source: Turkish Minute , June 2, 2017


Related News

Dozens of US Congress members urge Kerry to press Turkey for freer media

A large number of members of the US Congress have voiced concerns on the recent arrest of media members in Turkey and called on Secretary of State John Kerry to press the Turkish government to secure press freedom in the country.

Two women detained during visit to jailed husbands

Two women, identified as H.T. and S.S., were detained when they went through security check before visiting their imprisoned husbands at a prison in Turkey’s Edirne province.

Şimşek: Despite slander, Gülen remains silent to avoid provoking gov’t supporters

Osman Şimşek, editor of herkul.org — the website that usually publishes Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen’s speeches — has said that the Islamic cleric doesn’t respond to slander and insulting remarks so as not to provoke those who support the government.

Pak-Turk Parents Association calls for immediate recovery of ex-principal, his family

The Pak-Turk Parents Association on Wednesday demanded an immediate release of the former principal of Pak-Turk School Mesut Kacmaz, who, along with his family, was reportedly kidnapped by unknown people from his residence in Wapda Town a little over two weeks ago.

How to Interview Fethullah Gulen

Turkey is in the spotlight (again) with TIME magazine’s choices for its 2013 list of the 100 most influential peoplein the world. Turkish spiritual leader Fethullah Gulen and the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) Abdullah Öcalan were both listed under the leaders section. Öcalan and Gulen are two enigmas. One lives in self-imposed […]

The AKP as a party: Is it Islamic, statist or just opportunist?

The situation is tense these days in Turkey between the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Gülen movement.

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

Closing down Turkish schools impossible as demand on rise, says TUSKON head

Romania Refuses to Extradite Journalist to Turkey

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

Gulen teachings take root

ESİDEF: Targets doubled despite intimidation

Erdoğan gov’t supports Iranian contest while obstructing Turkish Olympiad

Abant meeting calls for commitment to EU process, new constitution

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News