CTA President thanks NBA veteran Enes Kanter Freedom for his advocacy for rights and freedoms of Tibetans 

DHARAMSALA, 1 Dec: The President of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has thanked the professional basketball player Enes Kanter Freedom of Boston Celtics for his “advocacy for the rights and freedoms of Tibetans suffering under China’s repressive rule” and thanked the NBA veteran for his “resolute stand for human rights and freedom.”

“I have come to learn with great admiration about your advocacy for the rights and freedoms of Tibetans suffering under China’s repressive rule. As a person of your stature, your support has tremendously helped amplify the voices of the Tibetan people. It is also a great source of encouragement and hope for the Tibetan people inside Tibet and around the world, as well as to all those oppressed under the authoritarian regime of the Chinese government,” CTA President Penpa Tsering has said in a missive addressed to the Boston Celtics centre.

President Tsering has further stated that Kanter’s support came at a “crucial time when the Chinese government is increasingly and aggressively using its economic clout to threaten the universal values of democracy, freedom and rule of law.” 

He concluded by offering his gratitude to the 29-year-old baller for his resolute stand for human rights and freedom.

“As the Sikyong(President) of the CTA, I, on behalf of the Tibetans inside Tibet and around the world, express our deep gratitude for your resolute stand for human rights and freedom,

The athlete, who was born in Switzerland and raised in Turkey, changed his name to “Enes Kanter Freedom” when he earned his US citizenship on Monday.

“It’s Official Mr Freedom,” Kanter Freedom declared in an Instagram post on Tuesday.