NBA free agent Enes Kanter Freedom, a human rights advocate who has spoken out to bring awareness to communist China’s treatment of its Uyghur community, Tibet, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, has been nominated for the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize.
The nomination, which The Atlantic reported last week was made by a member of the Norwegian Parliament, has won support from 30 Nobel laureates, as well as well-wishers on social media.
“I’m honored and humbled to receive the nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize,” Freedom wrote on Twitter. “Sometimes taking a stand is more important than your next paycheck.”
I’m honored and humbled to received the nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize. @NobelPrize
— Enes FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) February 16, 2022
Sometimes taking a stand is more important than your next paycheck.https://t.co/ZjAPiHUoaD
The majority of the messages left below his post are congratulatory, describing his nomination as “well-deserved.”
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) wrote on Twitter on Feb. 17: “Enes is a fearless fighter for human rights & freedom for all & I couldn’t be more proud to see him receive a nomination for the Nobel Prize.”
Great to see my friend, @EnesFreedom again today. Enes is a fearless fighter for human rights & freedom for all & I couldn’t be more proud to see him receive a nomination for the @NobelPrize. pic.twitter.com/wdk36Ik587
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) February 17, 2022
On Feb. 16, Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.) said he was proud to support Freedom’s efforts to “bring awareness to human rights abuses around the world.”
Freedom has been outspoken about the issues of China’s human rights, which are persistently censored in China. He also urged athletes to boycott the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games, which Beijing has been using as a powerful propaganda tool to enhance its international image.
“The Chinese government does not represent Olympic core values of excellence, of respect, of friendship,” Freedom said during a press conference hosted by Scott in January, citing the regime’s broad suppression spanning Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and Tibet; its intimidation of Taiwan; and its suppression inside China itself. “They are a brutal dictatorship.”
Yao Ming, a former NBA basketball player who now presides over the state-affiliated Chinese Basketball Association, invited Freedom to visit China to develop a “more comprehensive understanding” of Beijing on Jan. 18.
By Frank Yue
