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Enes Kanter Freedom will receive a second Hardwired for Freedom Award in recognition of NBA players’ human rights advocacy around the world.
Freedom told Fox News Digital: “It is a great honor to receive this award, especially given Hardwired Global’s standing in the human rights community.
Freedom’s award comes after years of activism in human rights, a personal mission often at odds with NBA and league stars. Freedom was born in Switzerland to Turkish parents and grew up in Turkey after moving to America in his teens. He was drafted 3rd overall in his 2011 NBA Draft by Utah his Jazz, but his career soon became more defined by his off-court performances than his on-court performances.
Freedom, who was born Enes Kanter but changed his surname to Enes Kanter Freedom when he obtained U.S. citizenship last year, began speaking out against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in 2013. . He was accused of human rights violations by an international observer group called “Hitler of our century”. That same year, he was disowned by his family and encouraged to change his last name as a result of supporting a failed coup attempt.
Enes Kanter Freedom criticizes LeBron James: ‘It breaks my heart when people take freedom for granted’
The Turkish government issued an arrest warrant for Freedom in 2017 for his participation in the Islamist Hizmet movement, and eventually sentenced him to death after he failed to appear in Turkish court later that year. revoked the citizenship of The move left him stateless, fearful of traveling abroad, and refused to travel with the New York Knicks in 2019 out of fear for his safety.
A 2019 ESPN article detailed the dangers of Freedom’s outspokenness, citing the FBI to give an NBA player a device that could alert nearby agents in an emergency for a credible threat to his life. It is reported that it is equipped.
But freedom’s advocacy is not limited to Turkey. He has expressed his support for the Free Tibet Movement on his social media and has spoken out against Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2021. The move has been controversial for the NBA, which has avoided speaking out against China in recent years over concerns it could alienate the league from what it sees as an important new market.
In retaliation, the Chinese government suspended all games of Freedom’s team at the time, the Boston Celtics, but this move did not deter Freedom from its outspoken approach. He called for a boycott of the 2022 Chinese Winter Olympics over China’s treatment of its Uyghurs, but the movement met with partial success when President Biden announced a diplomatic boycott of the Olympics late last year. finished.
Enes Kanter Freedom reacts to potential Britney Greiner deal
Freedom’s advocacy has put him at odds with the NBA and other outspoken stars. Freedom is perhaps the NBA’s most famous star and one of the most outspoken players he has long criticized LeBron James. Last year, Freedom offered to sit down with James to “educate” him on human rights abuses in China.
“I don’t know if he’s educated enough, but I’m here to educate him and I’m here to help him because it’s not about the money,” Freedom said. He told ESPN at the time. Then his grandchildren and grandchildren and grandchildren can live the best lives ever.”
Freedom last month again denounced James’ comments about imprisoned WNBA star Britney Griner, and James took American freedom for granted when he claimed Griner may not want to return to the United States from Russia. He claimed to have thought
Cantor Freedom told American Newsroom host Bill Hemmer, “When people take freedom for granted, it makes me really sad and it breaks my heart. So I was so confused.” said.
Enes Kanter Freedom says the NBA is “run by a Chinese dictatorship” after exclusive records surfaced.
Freedom believes his battle with the NBA and its most famous star is why he was cut by the Houston Rockets earlier this year and left without a team, NBA commissioner Adam Silver denies. doing.
Tina Ramirez, founder and president of human rights advocacy group Hardwired, founded in 2013, says Freedom’s courage in making such high personal sacrifices is why she won this year’s Hardwired for Freedom award. rice field.
“Enes Freedom has tirelessly defended the rights and freedoms of people around the world,” Ramirez told Fox News Digital. A true winner.”
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Freedom said he hopes his acceptance of the award will raise awareness of the plight of the oppressed around the world.
“While it is certainly humbling and gratifying to have our hard work recognized, it also brings more attention to major human rights violations and tyranny around the world to the millions of people who endure it every day. I hope it will be directed,” he told Fox News Digital. “With so many people around the world living lives of oppression, there is a long way to go, but I am optimistic and will continue to work with Hardwired Global against tyranny in all its forms. I look forward to it.”