NBA Star Kanter’s Father Faces Up to 10 Years in Jail on Terror Charges

Father of NBA star Enes Kanter faces up to 10 years in prison on charges of links to a terrorist organization, Turkish media reported on Tuesday.

Turkish prosecutors are seeking five to ten years in prison for Mehmet Kanter who was arrested over alleged affiliation with the Gulen Movement and then released pending trial in the aftermath of the July 2016 coup.

The Turkish government blames the movement for the failed coup.

Mehmet Kanter was a professor at Istanbul Medeniyet University and was dismissed by a government decree during the state of emergency. He disowned his son Enes over his unwavering support for U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen.

The New York Knicks star player has been a vocal critic of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Last year, a prosecutor launched an investigation into the NBA star on terror charges.

I will continue to keep fighting for Human Rights and Freedom of Speech
Justice and Democracy above all.I will stand for what I believe in.All I’m doing is trying to be voice of innocent people
Keep my family,innocent people in your prayers 🙏#DictatorErdogan 🇹🇷@RT_Erdogan pic.twitter.com/i7kK3mwKND

— Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) June 18, 2018