This is much bigger than basketball. ‘NBA Enes Kanter open on desired by Turkey Being

New York Knicks center Enes Kanter the only NBA player who is an international fugitive, in the eyes of their country’s government. Prosecutors in Turkey have sought a warrant of arrest Kanter, and to seek his extradition from the United States. Kanter is a vocal critic of President Erdogan turkish; supports Fethullah Gülen, the clerics in exile in Pennsylvania, which believes that the turkish government was to overthrow behind a coup attempt in 2016 Erdogan. Turkey has Kanter accused of being part of a terrorist group and has revoked his passport in 2017. Shortly before his suburban New York Apartment Go take care of his teammates over the Washington Wizards in London on Thursday to watch – Kanter skipped the game , the Wizards 101 -100 won because he feared death during overseas- the 26-year-old in turn, spoke of fear, death threats, and the news is for his enemies and return home to family. [The conversation was easily processed and condensed for clarity] You enjoy a right of refugees feel now? It’s strange. I deleted on Twitter that the only thing that terrorize the edge. People know me, my teammates know me, everyone knows me. Therefore, if the government establishes a statement, saying: ‘Oh, he’s a terrorist,’ my teammates actually laughed. They laugh literally. All my friends were laughing. I’m like, What is this? It’s ridiculous. If they call you a terrorist, you’re verrückt.’Hast fear? My name on Interpol red notice. So when I takes place outside of America, my life will be in danger. But I feel safe in America. This allows you to roam freely here? Not hiding? Our security team has said, even if you go to a supermarket, you have someone with you. So where can I go – shopping, practice, go to the games, to go to pieces – I have someone do something with me always because you never know a lone wolf, one of the crazy fans Erdogan. The only place where I walk alone is the bathroom. Only the bathroom. If you get delivered, what do you think happened? Ooof. It will be very bad, man. I do not know if they kill me, because there will be so much pressure on him. But there was emphasized that to torture people in prisons many reports. So I’m definitely much torture me very badly. What kind of torture you expect? Pooh. I have no idea. But I know that after this test, I’m not going to play again in one of his basketball position. What is your main criticism of Erdogan? Erdogan’s authoritarian leaders, journalists and imprisoning opposition. He is an anti-American leaders, the American people hostage, as Mr. Brunson, holding the priest. Erdogan violated human rights. More than 17,000 innocent women and have about 700 children have been held in prison without trial. So he uses his power to abuse human rights. If you look at the moment, Turkey is the only country in the world number sets for the most journalists in jail after the attempted coup. This shows there is no freedom of expression in Turkey. Do not get me wrong, I love my country, I love my flag, I love my people. Turkey could be the bridge between Islam and the modern West. But now that all this stuff is happening in Turkey, which is impossible. What is your message to Erdogan? I would tell him to stop only. Stop abusing innocent people. Stop abusing the journalists. stop abusing women and children. It kills the county. There is no democracy in the country now. There is no freedom of expression. Can my teammates in Turkey even invitation because they are afraid. Turkey was a peaceful community that Turkey was a beautiful region. But because of all the things that happen now, I mean … look at my family I can not even bring my family to America, because they are not, they can leave the country. Let the innocent people alone. Not only my family. People know my story, because playing in the NBA. There are thousands and thousands of stories out there waiting to hear the worst way. Please. Not only me and my family. Leave all the innocent people alone. Another former NBA players, Hedo Turkoglu is now a chief adviser to Erdogan. He criticized you on Twitter. What is your message for him? I called him a puppy because it must follow any comments that Erdogan gives. We were really good friends back in 2011. We played on the same team. All the stuff that is happening at this moment on, he can not truly free because fear Erdogan spoke. He lost so many fans, many friends in America because of what he does. In an editorial, he wrote for the Washington Post why Colin Kaepernick she cites as inspiration? He offered to talk about the issues a lot of things down. If you are just athletes, actors, singers, athletes do not – you need to talk about these kinds of problems, because this great platform. And millions of fans after six. So what I did was definitely surprising. What is the cost to you? My family. [Editor’s note: Kanter father, mother and sister remains in Turkey. His father is facing criminal charges for alleged links with a terrorist group]. This is the most important. Since the last time I saw my family in 2015. Sometimes I have even forgotten their appearance, you know? It ‘s so difficult to communicate with them. Since the Turkish police raided my house. They have taken electronics, computers remotely. They wanted to see if I am or even more in touch with my family did not. Every single text, they are all in prison. He regretted that Erdogan and President Trump seem to have a good relationship? I really do not know what goes on behind the doors to be honest with you. You can tweet or they can say what they want, but I do not really know what goes on behind the scenes. That’s why I want to meet with Trump and talk about all these issues. Talk about all the abuses that Erdogan does for human rights. Have you been to Trump lay your hand? I want to reach. I do not know how. If you delete them there, maybe I will read, and we get a meeting with him. You still had more death threats in recent days? I used to death threats at least once or twice a week. Now that all this, the last three or four days, I probably get hundreds a day. I do not count. Our boy Kink told me to take a screenshot of them, submit them to us. It ‘got to the point where it was so many of them. I’m like, you know what, I will not even bother to do that. ‘Are you deaf to them now, or have not yet cause for concern? I’m 6’11, about 245 pounds. But these are the death threats the man, you have to take seriously. One of Erdogan crazy fans could come and do something, and you can not control. The government can not control a loner. It’s scary. Wherever you go the Wizards-Knicks game show? I actually look at my apartment. I’ll put my shirt. Because I want to feel like you’re still a part of the team. I go to see her Instagram stories. I’m still in a group chat. If they say, “We the street mall, we go out to eat, I want to go to a dinner today, it is breaking my heart .. What is your impact was uncertain Basketball – your game like that time is below Knicks feel younger players develop – have on all this, it is very tiring trade rumors, do not know if i will go, the team, minute, everything, but now my first job is to take care of this, because this is much more great …? .. basketball or my future in the NBA back Looking at how this situation escalates, you want to do anything different, I just want to say: I have a platform, and I am using this platform, and I try to express all the people. no fools innocent people who do not call a vote. me. I have no regrets. I wish I could do more. any message to your family back in Turkey? Oh man. If I could say one thing to them I would tell them I love you ‘And I I would say, ‘Mom, I miss the food.’.
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