Enes Kanter speaks to media about his detainment in Romania

After being detained in Romania this weekend Enes Kanter finally returned to America and spoke to media about the harrowing experience.

Enes Kanter has had a target on his back every since he spoke out on his political views. This is not the first time Kanter has used his very public platform to speak out on the issues he has with his native Turkey.  Due to his political views and his outspokenness his passport was revoked this weekend in Romania, the most recent evidence of this.

Getting back to America was no easy feat. It required a group which included his team the OKC Thunder, lawyers from the franchise, Homeland Security, the NBA Players Association  and the the State Department. The combination of their efforts enable the young player to get his passport reinstated and finally leave Romania. Initially he traveled to London England and from there caught a plane back to the United States.

How it all started:

While visiting Indonesia, Kanter was awoken at 2:30 by his manager who informed him Secret Service was searching for him after being tipped off by Turkey that Kanter was “Dangerous”. The odd part of this situation is Enes Kanter was traveling on a charitable mission to promote his Enes Kanter Light Foundation. He fled Indonesian taking a flight to Singapore and from there he flew to Romania.

The trouble behind closed doors:

Once in Romania, the trouble continued as he was detained and his passport was ceased and revoked. Kanter explained hHis passport was being held by the Turkish Embassy. This all occurred on the OKC Thunder’s 25th birthday. Kanter is adamant this situation all transpired due to his political beliefs and his outspokenness regarding Recep Erdoğan, Turkey’s residing President.

“This comes at a time when Erdogan has once again extended his rule” Norah O’Donnell stated. The Turkish official has imprisoned countless amounts of journalists and closed over 100 news outlets. These are believed to be related to the opposition of his power.

Kanter responded that, “Women are in jail. Pregnant, [not] pregnant, they are in jail, getting tortured, getting raped.”

Paying a price for his stance:

With the crazy journey Kanter had, finally made it to London, and got on a plane to America. Threats still come even though he is back “home”. “I’m getting death threats almost every day, and I believe that once I leave this set, once I leave this room, I will receive death threats.”

The big man has also been disowned from his family. He fears that trying to talk to them will end up with them being, “put in jail”. Enes also said that Erdoğan was “the Hitler of our generation“. A strong statement, but he sticks to it.

For Kanter, this “was one of the craziest experiences I have ever had” as per Scott Gleeson, USA Today Sports.

Happily, the newly turned 25 year old, is back in the US where he will continue to play out his NBA career.  At this stage it’s uncertain if this will be with the Oklahoma City Thunder next year or not, but will be figured out before October. Enes Kanter advised he is thrilled to have a green card and advised his next steps will be to seek American citizenship.

More from Thunderous Intentions

• Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
• Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
• 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
• Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
• Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder

Suffice to say it was quite a dramatic 25th birthday and weekend for the young Enes Kanter.