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With the Portland Trail Blazers and the Toronto Raptors all four victories of a match in the NBA Finals, plans are being made for the Blazers' start center, Enes Kanter, to safely participate in every game.
Oregon Senator Ron Wyden sends a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, on behalf of Kanter, to encourage the safe passage of the Turkish center to Canada for all games.
"I ask your government to facilitate the safe passage of Mr. Kanter to and from Canada if the Portland Trail Blazers compete against the Toronto Raptors in Toronto, Canada, in the next NBA finals," reads the report. letter. "I also urge your government to publicly declare that it will not abide by any Interpol red notice aimed at impeding Mr. Kanter's livelihood and intimidating him, as well as his family, in Turkey. "
Kanter has found strong support from Wyden since joining the Blazers in February after being taken over by the New York Knicks.
"I have every confidence in myself and my team to win the final round of the Western Conference," Kanter told ESPN via SMS. "Going to Toronto will be a little hectic for me for the reasons you know, and I know that Senator Wyden is working hard to make it happen and I really appreciate it.
"On the other hand, I know the Prime Minister of Canada, Mr. Justin Trudeau is a good leader and I trust him to help improve my situation," Kanter said. "I know it because it already helps many more Turkish citizens of the Hizmet movement, who are oppressed by dictator Erdogan's regime right now."
Kanter strongly criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Kanter is a close ally of Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, accused by the Erdogan government of helping orchestrate a failed coup d'état attempt in 2016.
Due to security concerns and issues related to his immigrant status, Kanter, who has a green card, did not travel with the Blazers to face the Raptors in early March. His Turkish passport was revoked in 2017 and his arrest warrant in Turkey has been suspended since January. At present, a red notice of Interpol has been issued for Kanter, which could result in his detention and removal to Turkey.
"On another note, even though Senator Wyden and Prime Minister Trudeau are doing their best, dictator Erdogan will try to use or abuse all his powers to manipulate the red notification system via Interpol" , said Kanter. "As you know, I am a law-abiding citizen in Turkey and the US I have never broken a law of my life, I do not even have a parking ticket, but the Turkish government cancels my passport … WHY "It's just because I'm a virulent critic of dictator Erdogan. Erdogan could therefore push all his chances through Interpol, which, I believe, is trying to abuse it.
"Interpol should not be fooled by a regime of dictators, including that of Erdogan," Kanter said. "No matter what they do, I will not back down in my fight on the path to democracy, strengthening human rights and freedom of expression."
In January, while Kanter was with the New York Knicks, he did not go to London for a match against the Washington Wizards, citing security concerns.
"While President Erdogan is pursuing Turkey on a dark and authoritarian path, Mr. Kanter is far from the only one facing the persecution," says Wyden's letter to Trudeau. "But without his Turkish passport – and not yet able to qualify for an American passport – Kanter finds himself in a particularly precarious legal position because he is a public figure who uses his tyrant pulpit to denounce a dangerous tyrant.
"I have asked my staff to work with our administration to ensure that Mr. Kanter can travel safely to Canada and return unhindered in the event of a Portland-Toronto NBA series." ", says the document. "I urge your government to guarantee the same with respect to Mr. Kanter's ability to enter Canada, play in Canada, and then return safely and quickly to the United States." to declare publicly that your government will ignore any red advice against Mr. Kanter. "
Kanter is becoming an American citizen, but he will not have finalized it until 2021.
With the Blazers in the final of the Western Conference, the Turkish broadcaster S Sport will not televise the series against the Warriors of the state of the gold.
"I can say clearly that we will not broadcast the Warriors-Blazers series," S Sport commentator Omer Sarac told Reuters. "In addition, if Portland reaches the final, [that] will not be broadcast either … This situation does not concern us, but that's what it is. "
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