Republicans demand Biden crack down on Turkey over $500,000 bounty on NBA star Enes Kanter Freedom

House Republicans are calling on President Joe Biden to consider sanctions against Turkish officials and entities behind a $500,000 reward for information leading to the capture of NBA star Enes Kanter Freedom.

Republican Study Committee Chairman Rep. Kevin Hern and Republican Rep. Brian Babin lead a letter to the White House on Monday, first obtained by DailyMail.com, demanding that the administration take “concrete action” against growing trends. most authoritarian in Turkey. More than 40 House Republicans signed the letter.

Kanter Freedom, who changed his last name to celebrate gaining US citizenship in 2021, is on the Turkish government’s most wanted list in 2023 after years of speaking out against the regime of President Recep Erdoğan and its human rights abuses. humans.

He said earlier this month that the Turkish government offered a reward of $500,000, about 10 million lira, for information leading to his capture.

‘Mister. Kanter Freedom is a law-abiding American citizen who has spoken out about human rights around the world,” the lawmakers’ letter to Biden said Monday.

Monday’s letter about the persecution of the professional athlete is also co-led by Rep. Brian Babin (left). House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (right) was also at last week’s meeting.

Kanter Freedom is shown shaking hands with Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds

“The Turkish government has not provided evidence that Kanter Freedom has engaged in any unlawful action, supported terrorism or used violence against the Turkish state.”

They accused Turkey of attacking him for “exercising his fundamental rights in expressing political views, which are protected by the United States Constitution.”

Kanter Freedom was on Capitol Hill last week, joining a Republican Study Committee members’ luncheon and updating lawmakers on his advocacy work and struggles with the Turkish government. She also met with CSR legislators last year.

The basketball player’s use of his platform to speak out against Turkey’s authoritarianism while presenting the United States as a beacon of democracy has made him a walking symbol of the American dream for some.

In addition to criticizing Turkey, Kanter Freedom has also criticized the Beijing regime for its genocide of Uyghur Muslims and forced labor practices, despite China being a major market for the NBA.

Republican lawmakers hope their celebrity status will force the Biden administration to take a harder line against repressive governments.

More than 40 House Republicans are calling on President Biden to crack down on Turkey for its generosity in the information that led to the capture of Kanter Freedom.

In their Monday letter to the president, Hern and Babin demanded that Biden investigate whether any Turkish individuals or government-linked groups qualify for sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which allows the US government to blacklisting those accused of violating human rights.

“We are deeply concerned about the continued deterioration of human rights and the rule of law in Turkey. Under President Erdoğan, Turkey has become increasingly authoritarian, with the government systematically detaining, prosecuting, and sentencing political opponents, journalists, and critics of the president on charges of terrorism and insulting the president,” they wrote.

“We urge your administration to put pressure on the Turkish government on freedom of expression, the free exercise of religion and other fundamental rights, specifically in regards to the Enes Kanter Freedom case.”

Regarding Biden’s meeting with Erdoğan at this month’s NATO summit, he is being asked to reveal whether the persecution of Kanter Freedom came up as a topic of discussion.

‘Has the Biden administration confronted the Turkish government regarding the threats issued by your government against Enes Kanter Freedom?’ asked the letter. ‘Will the Biden administration take concrete steps to hold those Turkish individuals or entities accountable for any human rights abuses against Enes Kanter Freedom?’

Biden met Turkish President Recep Erdoğan earlier this month during the NATO summit.

They have asked for Biden’s responses, along with a “full list” of individuals linked to the Turkish Kanter Freedom charges and “detailed justification as to whether or not such individuals or entities meet the criteria for sanctions,” by May 3. February.

Kanter Freedom revealed details about the bounty that led to his capture in an interview with the New York Post earlier this month.

He told the outlet that he has 24-hour protection and remains in close contact with federal police while residing in Washington, DC.

But according to the professional athlete, there are people hiding from the Turkish government who are in an even worse position than he is.

“I’m speaking because I’m not the only one on that list,” he said.

There are so many journalists, so many activists and so many athletes, but they are not as well known as I am. They are much easier targets, and they are alone out there.