Turkish NBA player's father acquitted of terrorism charges in Turkey
Boston Celtics center Enes Kanter is an outspoken critic of the Turkish government, which has led to trouble for his family back home.
Turkish basketball player Enes Kanter said today that his father has been exonerated of charges brought against him by the Turkish government.
Kanter, a 28-year-old center for the Boston Celtics, is an outspoken critic of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The NBA player also supports Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Erdogan blames for the 2016 coup attempt.
Kanter’s father, Mehmet Kanter, was briefly detained in 2017 on terrorism charges related to Gulen, which he denied. Mehmet Kanter’s passport was also taken away. The older Kanter was acquitted of the charges Thursday.
Enes Kanter celebrated the news on Twitter, saying it was due to pressure on the Turkish government. “My dad has been released,” said Enes Kanter. “This is due to the pressure we have put on the Turkish regime.”
