Enes Kanter has lost his Turkish citizenship, all contact with his family and receives weekly death threats – all because of a tweet.
When the Boston Celtics star criticised Turkey’s president Recep Erdogan in 2013, his social media post sparked a chain reaction that has left him stateless for three years and saw his father imprisoned.
The 28-year-old stood up for free speech and paid a harrowing price, but he explained to the PA news agency in a wide-ranging interview how fighting injustice is more important than ever before.
America’s sporting protests spread to the UK and the Premier League, with England and United striker Rashford’s free school meals fight forcing the government into a U-turn.
Hailing Rashford’s stance and urging more top sports stars to take up their own causes, Kanter said: “When you are done with your career, you don’t only want to be remembered for your game.
“It’s good that you are one of the best soccer players, it’s good that you are one of the best basketball players. But don’t only be known for that.
“If God gives you this platform, use it. Use it to affect people’s lives, use it to touch hearts, use it to make a big change.
“So it’s not about how many goals you score or baskets you shoot, it’s about what kind of legacy you’re leaving behind you.
“Once I’m done with my career I want to be known as a human rights activist before being known as a basketball player.”
