NBA Center Implicated As Terrorist by Turkish Government
January 24, 2019
New York Knicks center Enes Kanter has been accused by the Turkish government of being part of a terror group.
Kanter was originally investigated by an Istanbul prosecutor due to his suspected partnership with a Sunni Muslim group, according to SB Nation.
“Turkish government can not present any piece of evidence of my wrongdoing,” Kanter said on Twitter. “I don’t even have a parking ticket in the U.S. I’m a law abiding citizen.”
According to Bleacher Report, Turkey is seeking an Interpol Red Notice, which is a request to locate and arrest.
The U.S. would not be able to stop the request, and Kanter believes that Turkey would go to great lengths for his capture.
“Erdogan’s arms are long,” Kanter said to the Washington Post. “He hunts down anyone who opposes him.”
Kanter was not able to travel with the Knicks to their game in London against the Washington Wizards, and NBA commissioner Adam Silver was supportive of his decision to stay in the U.S.
“There are significant issues that he is dealing with,” Silver said to the Washington Post. “I will say there’s nothing more important to me, as the commissioner of the league, the safety and security of our players, and so we take very seriously the threats that he has received, (even if) it’s just people on social media.”
EHS senior Patrick Driscoll believes that Kanter should be able to speak his mind.
“Regardless of whether or not Kanter is in the right, he is entitled to his own opinion on Turkey and it’s government,” Driscoll said.