Knicks Star's Father Faces 15 Years In Turkish Prison: Reports

NEW YORK, NY — New York Knicks player Enes Kanter's father is facing 15 years in Turkish prison, according to reports.

Kanter learned that his father was sentenced to prison and will likely be taken into custody upon his return to Turkey on Monday after reading Turkish news stories, Bleacher Report first reported. Kanter told the publication he believes the prison sentence is retaliation for his own opposition of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

"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," Kanter said in a statement posted to his Twitter account Monday. "Keep my family, innocent people in your prayers."

Kanter's father, Dr. Mehmet Kanter, was detained in Turkey for five days in 2017 for suspected links to U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, the Associated Press reported. The Turkish government accused Gulen of organizing a failed military coup in 2016.

The Knicks center is facing jail time himself should he return to his native Turkey. Turkish prosecutors demanded Kanter serve a four-year jail sentence last year for insulting Preisdent Erdogan. Kanter was accused of using his Twitter account to support Erdogan's rival Gulen after the failed coup in 2016.

In May of 2017, Kanter was detained in Romania after his Turkish passport was canceled. Kanter detailed the ordeal in a series of messages and videos posted on his personal Twitter account. Kanter was held in the airport for hours with a police detail and claimed he was detained due to his political views.

Read the full Bleacher Report article here.

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