Turkish NBA player's passport cancelled for calling Erdogan 'Hitler of this century'
Enes Kanter of the Oklahoma City Thunder shoots free throws shots before the first half of Game Four in the 2017 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Quarterfinals on April 23, 2017. PHOTO: AFP
Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter was detained and released on Saturday at a Romanian airport after being told his passport was canceled, a move the Turkish star said was because of his political views.
Kanter, blaming the incident on his political opposition to Turkey president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, posted a message on Twitter saying, "I'm being held at Romanian airport by Police!!"
More than six hours later, he followed with another saying, "All good baby! Gonna give press conference tomorrow in NY. Got lots of things to say with lots of crazy stories. Be ready!!! Ohhh Yeeahhh."
Kanter, a six-year NBA veteran who was born in Switzerland, was allowed to leave Romania and had flown to London, the New York Times reported, citing the NBA. Kanter posted a video in which he called Erdogan "the Hitler of our century" and detailed what had happened.
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"What's up world, just wanted to say we are in Romania," Kanter said in the video. "They said they canceled my passport by Turkish embassy. They've been holding us here for hours by these two police. You know, the reason behind it is just of course my political views. And the guy who did it is Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president of Turkey."
Romanian border police spokesperson Fabian Badila told the newspaper: "My colleagues established that his travel documents weren't valid, that they had been canceled by his home country, so he wasn't allowed to enter the country. At around 5 pm, he left the airport on a flight to London."
Kanter, who turned 25 on Saturday, was able to wander parts of the airport but unable to enter Romania after arriving in Bucharest from Jakarta, Indonesia, as part of a global tour for his charity foundation.
Kanter has been an outspoken critic of Erdogan, who visited Washington this past week to meet with US President Donald Trump. While in the US capitol city, his bodyguards were recorded on video attacking protesters outside the Turkish ambassador's home.
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"He has attacked people in Washington. He's a bad, bad man. He's a dictator. And he's the Hitler of our century," Kanter said in the video. "I will keep you posted guys, but just pray for us, and I'll tell you guys what's going on."
Kanter, the third overall selection in the 2011 NBA Draft, averaged 14.3 points and 6.7 rebounds over 72 games this past season for the Thunder, who were ousted in the first round of the NBA playoffs.