[McDunkin]

Enes Kanter’s political beliefs and affiliation have put him at odds with Turkey’s government.

The ongoing Olympic basketball tournament showcases many of the NBA’s top foreign imports, including legends like Pau Gasol and Manu Ginobili. Yet one of the league’s up-and-coming international stars is currently in the midst of a very different relationship with his country. In fact, Oklahoma City Thunder big man Enes Kanter could be all but officially exiled from his home country of Turkey.

Kanter’s predicament requires a good deal of background on the state of Turkish politics. On July 15, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan withstood a coup attempt that supposedly originated with members of the military. Erdogan has responded by consolidating power and purging the country of opposition members, many of whom are affiliated with the Gülenist movement, often referred to as “Hizmet” (or “service”) by its members. Erdogan’s Justice and Development party (or AKP) has denounced the Gülen movement as a terrorist cult, and its leader Fethullah Gülen, who lives in Pennsylvania in what was initially a self-imposed exile, has been blamed for the coup attempt. However, no outside observers have been able to confirm the coup’s origin or even named those who headed it within the country. That lack of clarity has caused many, including Gülen to claim or suggest that Erdogan staged it to gain further power. Kanter was educated in Gülenist schools and has been a proud member of the movement in adulthood. That affiliation likely led to Kanter not being chosen for the national team for last summer’s EuroBasket tournament, and it certainly caused him to receive death threats on social media in the aftermath of the coup attempt.

Kanter has now paid a much more serious price for his political beliefs. According to reports from Turkey, Kanter has been disowned by his family .

Mcdunkin note: there’s honestly a lot more to this story than what is presented in this article. I could be wrong but in my opinion If Enes’ dad didn’t make this statement the family would probably be thrown in prison or worse, so I’m not going to judge them.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/kanter-disowned-by-family-in-manifestation-of-turkeys-political-strife-053731559.html

[high floorParticipant]

Just goes to show how small the game of basketball can be compared to international isssues of this magnitude. Hopeful that Kanter and his family find common ground & that Enes can just focus on playing ball moving forward. 

[IlladelphParticipant]

This sounds like the father of Enes Kanter is doing whatever he has to do to protect his family.  In the recent failed coup attempt in Turkey, tens of thousands of government officials including thousands of judges and teachers were arrested, imprisoned, and lost their positions.  Enes’ father is apprently a teacher of some sort and probably is doing what he needs to do to protect himself and his family in Turkey.  

As far as Enes Kanter’s tweets, we really don’t know what is really going on.  It’s not like Enes is going to post anything that contradicts his own father, or makes his father look distrustful to the Turkish government.

At any rate, life in Turkey is something that most Americans cannot even imagine, much less understand.  I really feel for Enes Kanter, and his family.  

[OhCanada-Participant]

 I’ve been to Turkey and from an outsiders perspective as somebody who has travelled to a lot of countries most people in Turkey are against the government and they take action. I was in Turkey for two weeks and there were "protests" (which I would certainly call riots) pretty much everyday. One of these gatherings was caused when the government wanted to take down a tree in Taksim Square near Giiza Park. Its a very different world there. I even prepared myself for a culture shock but wasnt quite ready for it. What I’m wondering is why are Enes’s parents and family still living in Turkey?

 

 

 

[DolanCareParticipant]

 Nah, Turkey is an incredible country. The people have to make impossible choices right now as their democracy is fading away. Sometimes they protest but it’s at their own peril. 

Also I can assure you that the Gizi Park protests were about much more than a ‘tree being taken down’. 

[Mr. HookShotParticipant]

Based on Dutch/European Media outlets (which are obviously biased to an extent) it seems like democracy is fading away, with the majority of the Turkish people seemingly supporting Erdogan for various reasons. It difficult to judge from the outside, but hopefully they’ll a way to retain their democratic rights.

 

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