Video: Enes Kanter detained in Romanian airport over 'cancelled' passport Kanter said it's because of his outspoken political views against the Turkish president. Check out this story on USATODAY.com: https://usat.ly/2qF9ndm Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter reacts after a play in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center.

Start the conversation, or Read more at USA Today.</s>A Turkish-born Oklahoma City Thunder star was refused entry into Romania on Saturday because his Turkish passport had been cancelled, Romanian border police said.

Enes Kanter, who plays professionally in the NBA, is a long-time supporter of Pennsylvania-based preacher Fethullah Gulen, whose extradition Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan is seeking in relation to a failed coup last July.

Kanter earlier posted a video on Twitter explaining that Romanian police had detained him at Bucharest airport.

'I'm being held at Romanian airport by police,' Kanter wrote on his Twitter account, along with a photo of him with his arms around two police officers.

'We are in Romania and they said they cancelled my passport by Turkish embassy,' he said in the video, speaking in English.

'You know because the reason behind it is just of course my political views,' he explained. He also posted a video explaining the situation in Turkish.

Romanian border police said in a statement that Kanter had come from the United States and made a stop in Frankfurt.

'At the border checkpoint it was discovered that his passport is not valid, his travel document being annulled by the issuing state,' the statement said, adding he then flew on to London.

Turkish officials were not immediately available to comment.

Kanter said last year he had severed ties with his family and pledged allegiance to Gulen.

Turkish media also published a letter signed by Kanter's father, disowning his son.

During the coup attempt, rogue soldiers in warplanes and tanks tried to seize power in Turkey in a putsch that killed more than 240 people. Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile since 1999, has denied involvement.</s>Oklahoma City Thunder's Enes Kanter was held by Romanian police at Bucharest airport after his passport was cancelled: AP

A Turkish basketball star has become the latest victim of Turkey’s widening international crackdown on alleged coup plotters and political dissidents.

Enes Kanter, who lives in the US while playing for NBA team Oklahoma City Thunder, was held by Romanian police at Bucharest airport after his passport was cancelled.

“We are in Romania and they said they cancelled my passport by Turkish embassy,” he said in the video, speaking in English.

“You know because the reason behind it is just of course my political views.”

Mr Kanter said he was held for several hours, accusing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of being a “dictator” and the “Hitler of our century”.

“He is a bad, bad man,” the basketball player added, condemning an incident where Mr Erdogan’s bodyguards attacked anti-government protesters during his visit to Washington last week.

Mr Kanter’s agent, Melvut Cilnar, said he had since flown to London and expected to return to the US “very soon”.

Romania’s border police force said the basketball player had come from the US and made a stop in Frankfurt.

“At the border checkpoint it was discovered that his passport is not valid, his travel document being annulled by the issuing state,” a statement added.

Mr Kanter supports a movement run by Pennsylvania-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, who Ankara accuses of attempting to oust Mr Erdogan in a night of violence that left more than 240 people dead.

The sportsman severed ties with his family last year and publicly announced his support for Mr Gulen after Turkish media published a letter signed by his father, disowning his son.

Mr Gulen denies the claims, which have been dismissed by the UK, Germany and other nations who have also rejected the Turkish government’s attempts to label the group a terror organisation.

More than 150,000 people have been investigated in Turkey since July’s failed coup, seeing journalists, civil servants, judges, prosecutors, security personnel, teachers and academics dismissed or detained in huge purges.

Mr Erdogan’s government is now moving to extend the crackdown around the world, issuing letters from its embassies demanding the detention of selected suspects without trial.

The cancellation of passports has previously been used as a method to force deportation to Turkey, as in the case of three Turkish men extradited from Malaysia earlier this month.

Human rights groups warned that international school headteacher Turgay Karaman, academic Ismet Ozcelik and businessman Ihsan Aslan were “at risk of torture” after being detained in Dhaka and deported.

Their families deny any involvement in the coup and said they held valid visas in Malaysia, but police said the trio technically became illegal immigrants when Turkey cancelled their passports.

Turkey has applied pressure to countries around the world that are home to institutions backed by Mr Gulen, whose movement runs about 2,000 educational establishments in around 160 countries.

Many countries have refused its demands, but it appears that allies including Malaysia are acquiescing.

The crackdown has made Turkey world’s most prolific jailer of journalists, as reporters are arrested and papers shut down on charges of aiding the “Fethullah Gulen terrorist organisation”, as it is labelled by Ankara.

Four more journalists were arrested from the opposition Sozcu newspaper on Friday, which responded with a “May 19 Press Freedom Special Edition”, carrying empty columns with writers' names. Donald Trump was criticised for failing to raise the purges in a cosy press conference with Mr Erdogan, where he hailed Turkey’s “leadership” and partnership. The US President was previously condemned for congratulating Mr Erdogan as he won a controversial referendum to dramatically expand his powers last month, sparking alarm among European leaders and human rights groups warning of growing restrictions on political dissent.</s>U.S.-based Turkish basketball star Enes Kanter was refused entry into Romania on Saturday because his Turkish passport had been cancelled, Romanian border police said.

BUCHAREST: U.S.-based Turkish basketball star Enes Kanter was refused entry into Romania on Saturday because his Turkish passport had been cancelled, Romanian border police said.

Kanter, who plays in the NBA for Oklahoma City Thunder, is a long-time supporter of Pennsylvania-based preacher Fethullah Gulen, whose extradition Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan is seeking in relation to a failed coup last July.

Kanter earlier wrote on Twitter that Romanian police had detained him at Bucharest airport.

"I'm being held at Romanian airport by police," Kanter wrote on his Twitter account, along with a photo of him with his arms around two police officers and a video describing what he said was his situation.

"We are in Romania and they said they cancelled my passport by Turkish embassy," he said in the video, speaking in English. "You know because the reason behind it is just of course my political views."

Romanian border police said in a statement that Kanter had come from the United States and made a stop in Frankfurt.

"At the border checkpoint it was discovered that his passport is not valid, his travel document being annulled by the issuing state," the statement said, adding he then flew on to London.

Turkish officials were not immediately available to comment.

Kanter said last year he had severed ties with his family and pledged allegiance to Gulen after Turkish media published a letter signed by Kanter's father, disowning his son.

During the coup attempt, rogue soldiers in warplanes and tanks tried to seize power in Turkey in a putsch that killed more than 240 people. Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile since 1999, has denied involvement.</s>BUCHAREST, May 20 (Reuters) - U.S.-based Turkish basketball star Enes Kanter was refused entry into Romania on Saturday because his Turkish passport had been cancelled, Romanian border police said.

Kanter, who plays in the NBA for Oklahoma City Thunder, is a long-time supporter of Pennsylvania-based preacher Fethullah Gulen, whose extradition Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan is seeking in relation to a failed coup last July.

Kanter said on his Twitter account that he would hold a news conference in New York on Sunday to discuss his situation.

"Got lots of things to say with lots of crazy stories, Be ready!!!" he said.

Kanter had tweeted earlier that Romanian police had detained him at Bucharest airport.

"I'm being held at Romanian airport by police," Kanter wrote, along with a photo of him with his arms around two police officers and a video describing what he said was his situation.

"We are in Romania and they said they cancelled my passport by Turkish embassy," he said in the video, speaking in English. "You know because the reason behind it is just of course my political views."

Neither the National Basketball Association nor the Oklahoma City Thunder were immediately available for comment on Kanter.

Kanter's agent, Melvut Cilnar, told Oklahoma media that the player was safe.

He said he and Kanter expected to return to the U.S. from London "very soon" but did not elaborate.

Romanian border police said in a statement that Kanter had come from the United States and made a stop in Frankfurt.

"At the border checkpoint it was discovered that his passport is not valid, his travel document being annulled by the issuing state," the statement said, adding he then flew on to London.

Turkish officials were not immediately available to comment.

Kanter said last year he had severed ties with his family and pledged allegiance to Gulen after Turkish media published a letter signed by Kanter's father, disowning his son.

During the coup attempt, rogue soldiers in warplanes and tanks tried to seize power in Turkey in a putsch that killed more than 240 people. Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile since 1999, has denied involvement. (Reporting by Radu Marinas; Writing by Daren Butler in Istanbul; Editing by Dominic Evans and Ian Chadband)</s>Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter posted a video on social media Saturday, saying he was being held inside a Romanian airport due to passport issues.

Kanter discussed the travel problem, which happened to fall on his birthday, on Twitter:

This article will be updated to provide more information on this story as it becomes available.</s>Thunder center Enes Kanter posted a video on social media Saturday saying he's being detained by police at a Romanian airport.

In the post, headlined, "I'm being held at Romanian airport by Police!!" Kanter said, “What’s up world? Just wanted to say we’re in Romania and they said they canceled my passport by Turkish Embassy."

Before anyone worries that Kanter is about to find himself in a situation ripped straight out of a 1970s foreign prison movie (think "Midnight Express"), Kanter posted a photo of himself with two friendy-looking security officers.

Kanter, a Turkish native, believes his native country canceled his passport because of his well-known opposition Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“He’s a bad, bad man,” Kanter said. “He’s a dictator. (Adolf) Hitler of our century.”

In August, Kanter was disowned by his family, which still lives in Turkey, because of his opposition to Erdogan.

Kanter, who turns 25 Saturday, certainly didn't plan to spend the day being stranded at a Romanian airport. He is in the midst of a worldwide tour for the Enes Kanter Foundation, which provides meals and clothing to the needy worldwide.</s>Enes Kanter, Oklahoma City Thunder center and Turkish native, has been detained in a Romanian airport after the Turkish embassy reportedly “canceled” his passport. The 25-year-old center, an outspoken critic of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was previously in Indonesia for a stop on his Enes Kanter Light Foundation tour.

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According to the center, in a video posted on Saturday morning, authorities have “been holding us here for hours.”

Kanter blamed his passport’s seizure on his “political views,” mentioning Erdogan by name, calling him “a dictator” and “the Hitler of our century.”

Erdogan, faulted for his human rights abuses as Turkish president, was recently warmly welcomed by President Donald Trump in a White House meeting marred by Erdogan’s security detail and their response to the protesters:

Kanter appears to be taking his delay in stride:

The six-year pro’s support of 2016’s attempted military coup in Turkey and continued support of Fethullah Gülen and the Gülen movement cost him a great deal, his family moved to disown him and Kanter feels as if his anti-Erdogan critiques may have cost him a spot on the Turkish national team (Enes averaged 14.3 points and 6.7 rebounds in only 21 minutes in 2016-17).

Kanter has not been shy in revealing that his political views have led to a series of death threats, and his troubles may not be over:

The Thunder, reportedly, are working with the Romanian government to untangle the situation. The center is in “high spirits,” according to his representative, identified only as “Fetic” by the Oklahoman:

“They’re doing OK,” Fetic said. “The police and the people at the airport, they’re just doing their job. Once they get a notification that someone’s passport is stolen or canceled, they have to do the regular process. From my understanding, he said they’re being treated well so far. They’re trying to explain the situation to these people, why the passport is canceled, and this is pretty new, even in these years, that a government would intentionally try to cancel someone’s passport in order to bring them back.”

Kelly Dwyer is an editor for Ball Don’t Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at KDonhoops@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!</s>BUCHAREST (Reuters) - U.S.-based Turkish basketball star Enes Kanter was refused entry into Romania on Saturday because his Turkish passport had been cancelled, Romanian border police said.

Kanter, who plays in the NBA for Oklahoma City Thunder, is a long-time supporter of Pennsylvania-based preacher Fethullah Gulen, whose extradition Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan is seeking in relation to a failed coup last July.

Kanter earlier wrote on Twitter that Romanian police had detained him at Bucharest airport.

"I'm being held at Romanian airport by police," Kanter wrote on his Twitter account, along with a photo of him with his arms around two police officers and a video describing what he said was his situation.

"We are in Romania and they said they cancelled my passport by Turkish embassy," he said in the video, speaking in English. "You know because the reason behind it is just of course my political views."

Romanian border police said in a statement that Kanter had come from the United States and made a stop in Frankfurt.

"At the border checkpoint it was discovered that his passport is not valid, his travel document being annulled by the issuing state," the statement said, adding he then flew on to London.

Turkish officials were not immediately available to comment.

Kanter said last year he had severed ties with his family and pledged allegiance to Gulen after Turkish media published a letter signed by Kanter's father, disowning his son. [L8N1AQ1ZU]

During the coup attempt, rogue soldiers in warplanes and tanks tried to seize power in Turkey in a putsch that killed more than 240 people. Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile since 1999, has denied involvement.</s>Image copyright Reuters Image caption Mr Kanter is a centre for the Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team

An NBA basketball player from Turkey, Enes Kanter, has been stopped at a Romanian airport, after Turkey cancelled his passport.

Kanter, an Oklahoma City Thunder star, posted a video on Twitter saying this was due to his political views.

He blamed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who he called "a bad, bad man", and a "dictator".

Kanter, who turned 25 on Saturday, was later allowed to fly to London. It is unclear what documents he was using.

"They've been holding us here for hours," Kanter said in his video. "The reason behind it is, of course, my political views."

He posted a similar message in Turkish.

Romanian border police confirmed facts related to Mr Kanter's story, but did not speculate over the reasons.

Image copyright Twitter Image caption The professional athlete did not seem to hold a grudge against local police

In a statement - accompanied on social media by a photo of the sports star with police - border officials said he was detained at around 13:00 (12:00 GMT) after arriving on a plane from Frankfurt.

His passport was not valid, having been cancelled by "the issuing state", it said, and they could not allow him to enter Romania. But he was not under arrest.

He left at around 17:00 on a flight bound for London, it said.

When mentioning President Erdogan, Kanter told his audience: "You guys know him by, you know, he has attacked the people in Washington."

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Protesters injured outside Turkish embassy in Washington

He was referring to a controversial clash between protesters and men apparently linked to Mr Erdogan's security detail during the Turkish leader's recent trip to the US.

Kanter is a supporter of Fethullah Gulen, the US-based cleric blamed by the Turkish president for inciting a failed coup in 2016.

Turkey has demanded the preacher, who runs a network of schools in Turkey, be extradited, but the US has said it will only do on the basis of evidence.

In August 2016, Kanter cut ties with his family after his father publicly disowned him in the Turkish press.

Since the failed coup, suspected Gulenist supporters have been purged from jobs in Turkey. Many have been arrested.
Enes Kanter, a Turkish basketballer playing in the American National Basketball Association, is detained at Henri Coandă International Airport after his Turkish passport was cancelled.