Ex-NBA pro Enes Kanter: 'Erdogan is the Trojan horse for Putin in NATO'

Enes Kanter Freedom ended his basketball career in 2022 — unusually early at only 30.

“His criticism of authoritarian regimes earned the basketball player Enes Kanter many enemies”

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Kanter, who has held American citizenship since 2021, has since become a full-time activist who now speaks about human rights abuses by dictatorships rather than focusing on one country.

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In Turkey, his homeland, authorities regard him as an enemy of the state and press for his extradition because he publicly attacked Erdogan and identifies with the Gülen movement.

In a WELT interview conducted in Berlin in early March, he discusses human rights, captivity threats, and his broader view of today’s conflicts.

Kanter says he has spoken a lot with activists like Garry Kasparov and Bill Browder about the issue, and that what is happening in Ukraine is despicable.

He states that Putin is a cancerous growth and that, as in many places, those at the table make the decisions while people on the streets pay the price — including in Russia and Ukraine.

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He emphasizes the need to consider innocents on both sides — children, the elderly, and women — who have nothing to do with the war, and argues that Putin must be removed.

He adds that the international community must do everything to support Ukraine.

Kanter says he has spoken with activists like Garry Kasparov and Bill Browder about the issue.

“His criticism of authoritarian regimes earned the basketball player Enes Kanter many enemies”

DIE WELT

He notes that he works with both Republicans and Democrats on human rights, insisting that the cause transcends party lines and focusing on ordinary people.

He mentions his Breitbart interview and argues that, as long as the message stays on human rights and does not advocate for politicians, appearances in any media are acceptable.

He stresses that his goal is to raise attention for human rights regardless of the outlet or audience.

Kanter argues Erdogan is the Trojan horse for Putin in NATO.

He notes Turkey is a NATO ally, yet Erdogan shakes hands with Russia and Iran, supports groups like Hamas, and grants passports to terrorist leaders so they can travel through Europe.

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He warns that Erdogan threatens Europe with refugees, demands F-35 jets from America while buying S-400 models from Russia, and harasses neighbors such as Armenia and Greece.

He predicts Turkey will become the new Iran and calls Erdogan the new Chamenei in the Middle East.

Kanter recounts overseas trips where he faced arrest threats and notes that Turkey, China, and Russia use Interpol to pursue opponents.

“His criticism of authoritarian regimes earned the basketball player Enes Kanter many enemies”

DIE WELT

He recalls that Turkey put 63,000 names on Interpol lists in a single day, including his own, and that Romania confiscated his passport, leading to detention until US Senator James Lankford intervened and he was freed in under 45 minutes.

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He also mentions that Turkey abducted around 120 people and returned them for political imprisonment.

A week before Gülen’s death, he met Gülen, who impressed him with a vision of unity and empathy; Gülen urged setting aside differences to help others, a message Kanter carries forward.

In Germany, during Ramadan, Gülen followers hosted around 1,000 Iftar meals for people from all backgrounds, with the figure 'If 100 people come each time, that is 100,000 people.'

He notes concerns about the AKP using mosques to monitor people, including German citizens, and calls on the German government to act.