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After a nightmare weekend flight that included detainment and passport revocation, Enes Kanter detailed his ordeal Monday while speaking with several major media outlets.
Good way to start your morning @CBSThisMorning @CBSNews
— Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) May 22, 2017
Passport cancellation,Foundation trip, Turkish coup attempthttps://t.co/HX6OEcrd1l
Kanter, 25, a Turkish national, is shunned by both family and homeland for his outspoken stance against Turkish President Recep Erdogan.
In 2016, following a failed coup attempt attributed by Turkey government officials to Kanter-mentor Fethuallah Gulen, the Oklahoma City Thunder standout’s father publicly disavowed his son.
via Norman Transcript: "I apologize to the Turkish people and the president for having such a son. His statements and behavior trouble our family. I would not have taken Enes to the U.S. for the basketball camp where his talent was discovered had I known that it would come to this point.”
Kanter responded by stating:
"Today I lost those who for 24 years I called ... my family ... My own father wanted me to change my surname. The mother who gave birth to me rejected me.
From now on my mother, father and siblings are (the)... devoted members of Hizmet."
As part of a recent birthday celebration, Kanter flew across Europe to perform acts of charity for his Light Foundation.
Although, following a Romanian stop-over, the Thunder forward was abruptly notified by customs agents that his passport had been revoked by members of the Turkish government.
"They said (Turkey's embassy) canceled my passport. They've been holding us here for hours. The reason behind it is just of course my political views. And, the person who did it is Recep Tayyip Erdogan."
Perplexed, Kanter then faced several hours of detainment before finally boarding a flight back to New York, where he is currently stationed.
After thanking U.S. Homeland Security, Thunder legal team members, and the National Basketball Players Association for bringing him stateside, Kanter joked that he is “open for adoption” and plans to become an American citizen.
This morning, safely home in “The Big Apple,” Kanter happened to stumble upon “Mr. Thunder” Nick Collision, who greeted his jet-lagged teammate with a boisterous hug.
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