Former NBA center Enes Kanter Freedom, who has held a U.S. passport since 2021, has expressed growing concern over the social climate in America. “I see in the U.S. the first steps toward conditions like those in Turkey” he told “Welt”. “There are two camps, and whatever media you tune into, there’s always tension, conflict, argument over everything”.
Kanter warned that when people read or watch these reports they automatically begin to hate the other side. “People must understand: we have only one America. We need to unite to make the country better, otherwise China, Russia, Iran, and others will take advantage” he said. “It’s sad-and we have to wake up before it’s too late”.
He also criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, describing him as “the Trojan horse for Putin in NATO”. According to Kanter, under Erdoğan Turkey is becoming a new Iran: “The country is a NATO ally, yet Erdoğan shakes hands with Russia and Iran, supports terror groups such as Hamas, and issues passports to terror leaders so they can travel through Europe”. He further compared Erdoğan to a new ‘Chamenei’ in the Middle East.
Kanter is wanted in Turkey, with an arrest warrant issued against him. He is a supporter of the Gülen movement, which the Turkish government designates as a terrorist organization.