Enes Kanter DALLAS, TX – MARCH 16: Enes Kanter #34 of the Oklahoma City Thunder at American Airlines Center on March 16, 2015 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Enes Kanter’s outspokenness on the failed military coup in Turkey to overthrow government has resulted in death threats on Twitter.

The Oklahoma City Thunder forward posted a picture with multiple threats (in Turkish) related to his comments on the coup.

“Death threats continue to fall,” Kanter posted on Twitter, in Turkish. “Prayer does not stand still.”

ESPN reports Kanter has been outspoken in the past about Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“After a terrorist bombing in Turkey’s capital of Ankara in March, Kanter was outspoken against Erdogan’s government. The attack killed 37 people and injured more than 100. Kanter criticized the country’s blocked access to social media and the limited broadcast media coverage.”

Kanter was left off Turkey’s National Team at EuroBasket 2015 because “he didn’t apologize” for his incidents of the past. The 24-year-old said he was left off the team because of his political beliefs. Clearly, there are those in Turkey who do not agree with Kanter’s statements.

Kanter, who was born in Switzerland but is of Turkish dsecent, doesn’t deserve death threats for simply voicing his opinion on a serious issue. It’s one of the biggest problems in this social media age. The attitude that athletes “should stick to sports” is degrading.

Kanter wanted to speak on a serious issue and did so. Athletes should be using their huge platforms to discuss serious issues – for better or worse – and not get death threats for it.

[ESPN]

About Liam McGuire

Social +Staff writer for The Comeback & Awful Announcing. Liammcguirejournalism@gmail.com