NBA Player Detained in Romania, Says Turkey ‘Canceled My Passport’ Over Political Views

Justin BaragonaMay 20th, 2017, 12:37 pm

I’m being held at Romanian airport by Police!! pic.twitter.com/uYZMBqKx54

— Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) May 20, 2017

Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter is currently being detained in a Romanian airport after what he described as his passport being “canceled” by the Turkish embassy. He is blaming this action over his political views, claiming Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is the one who is behind the action.

The Turkish athlete had just come into Bucharest from Indonesia as part of a tour for his charitable foundation. According to The Oklahoman, he was planning on visiting at least seven countries before his detainment.

In a video he posted to his Twitter account, he likened Erdogan to Hitler, calling him a “bad, bad man” and highlighting the recent controversy involving Erdogan’s bodyguards beating up protesters in Washington.

According to ESPN, Kanter has been an outspoken critic of Erdogan and is a supporter of the Erdogan foe Fethullah Gulen, founder of the Gulen Movement who currently lives in the US. Kanter’s political beliefs have caused tensions with his family, with him stating that his father asked him to change his surname.

Kanter posted photos of himself with Romanian cops to his Twitter account:

Haha ? bizi tutan polisler fotoğraf çektiriyor.
Siz kiminle uğraşıyorsunuz Ey Korkaklar. ?? pic.twitter.com/2reL6yZx5I

— Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) May 20, 2017