NBA star prosecuted

ANKARA: Turkish prosecutors yesterday demanded over four years jail for Turkish-origin NBA player Enes Kanter on charges of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

The 25-year-old player, who lives in the US, is accused of insulting the Turkish president on social media, and will be tried in absentia.

The New York Knicks centre voiced support for Fethullah Gulen and compared Erdogan to Adolf Hitler on Twitter after last year’s coup attempt. The indictment said Kanter used Twitter to “defame and deride” President Erdogan, according to the report.

Kanter’s passport was revoked by Turkish authorities.