Enes Kanter’s father released from Turkish prison, Celtics center says

Enes Kanter shared some encouraging news for his family Friday via Twitter.

The Boston Celtics center said his father, Mehmet, has been released from prison in his native Turkey seven years after his arrest.

1) Wow!
I could cry
Today I found out that 7 years after arresting my dad, taking him through a Kangaroo court and accusing him of being a criminal just because he is my dad.

MY DAD HAS BEEN RELEASED!
This is due to the pressure we have put on the Turkish regime.
— Enes Kanter FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) June 19, 2020

Kanter's father, a genetics professor at Istanbul University, was acquitted of terrorism charges Thursday, according to Reuters. He was initially sentenced to 15 years in prison for allegedly supporting Fethullah Gulen, who was accused of leading a coup to overthrow Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in 2016.

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Kanter has been an ardent critic of Erdogan's regime -- which revoked the 28-year-old's passport and has banned him from returning to Turkey -- and continued that criticism Friday on Twitter.

2) They no longer could keep him from his freedom because of the spotlight that we all put on this case!

However! He is just one person, there are still tens of thousands of people wrongfully in jail in Turkey.

I will not forget you, we will not forget you!
— Enes Kanter FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) June 19, 2020

3) This proves that the voice of the people will always push Dictators to do the right thing in the end.
Don't be scared to stand for what is right, always and always,
Stand for FREEDOM
Stand for DEMOCRACY
Stand for HUMAN RIGHTS
— Enes Kanter FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) June 19, 2020

Kanter also shared the news on Instagram, where Celtics teammate Vincent Poirier offered his support, writing, "Big time" in the comment section.

Kanter currently is in Boston getting back into shape as he prepares for the return of the 2019-20 season, and this news certainly should buoy his spirits.