NBA’s Enes Kanter tells Beijing ‘Hong Kong will be free’, says Hongkongers ‘are not Chinese’

Boston Celtics player turns focus on Hong Kong in his latest anti-Beijing stand, after slamming China on issues including Tibet and Xinjiang

‘We have seen increased crackdowns, censorship, and propaganda, and the death of free elections, academic freedom and independent media,’ says Kanter

3-MIN READ3-MIN

Enes Kanter speaks in a video posted on social media while wearing a ‘Stand with Hong Kong’ shirt. Photo: Twitter/Enes Kanter

Published: 11:30am, 3 Nov 2021Updated: 11:30am, 3 Nov 2021

NBA star Enes Kanter may not have shown off a fresh pair of customised shoes demonstrating against China as he sat out the Boston Celtics’ defeat by the Chicago Bulls on Monday night, but he did voice his support for a “free Hong Kong” after the game.

Kanter has worn a series of shoes drawing attention to China’s alleged human rights abuses since the 2021-22 NBA season started last month, and has followed up each time with scathing criticism of Beijing on his social media accounts.

Even though he did not feature at TD Garden in Boston, where the Bulls won 128-114, the 29-year-old NBA centre posted another video on Twitter, and directly addressed the camera while wearing a “Stand with Hong Kong” T-shirt.

“When someone says Hong Kong to me, the very first thing I think of is the people, the brave Hongkongers standing up against China’s dictatorship,” he said.

“Hong Kong used to be one of the freest cities in the world but in recent years that has all changed. Enacted by Beijing, the National Security Law is sending generations of Hongkongers to jail simply for exercising their basic rights to freedom of assembly, freedom of speech and freedom of expression.