Oregon Senator Ron Wyden vowed he would take every step he can to make sure Trail Blazers center Enes Kanter can travel to Canada if Portland makes the NBA Finals and is matched up against the Toronto Raptors.

Wyden took one of those steps today, sending a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urging him to “ensure Kanter’s safe passage to and from Canada” and also asking him to state publicly that Canada "will not comply with any Interpol red notice meant to interfere with Mr. Kanter’s livelihood and intimidate him and his family back in Turkey.”

In case you need a refresher on why this development is important, Kanter missed a Trail Blazers game in Toronto, Canada, this season due to the immigration issues stemming from an international arrest warrant, or Interpol “red notice” that was issued for the Blazers center by the Turkish government.

Here is Wyden’s letter in full:

Oregon Senator Ron Wyden sent a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urging him to ensure Trail Blazers center Enes Kanter's safety if the Portland Trail Blazers manage to reach the NBA Finals and have to face the Toronto Raptors in Canada. Courtesy of Ron Wyden's office.

Oregon Senator Ron Wyden sent a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urging him to ensure Trail Blazers center Enes Kanter's safety if the Portland Trail Blazers manage to reach the NBA Finals and have to face the Toronto Raptors in Canada. Courtesy of Ron Wyden's office.

Why is there an international arrest warrant for Enes Kanter?

Kanter is a Turkish national and has made international headlines over the past couple years for being a prominent and outspoken critic of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his government. As a follower of a U.S.-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, who the Turkish government accuses of masterminding a failed military coup in 2016, Kanter has become a political target. While Gulen has denied the allegations, thousands of people suspected of ties to his network have been arrested, fired or become targets in Turkey, including Kanter.

In 2017, the Turkish government revoked Kanter’s passport and he was detained in a Bucharest airport while traveling in Romania. In January, Turkish prosecutors also issued an international arrest warrant or “red notice” for Kanter saying the center belongs to a terrorist organization and requested his extradition to Turkey to stand trial. Kanter believes this was done as retaliation for his political views and no longer travels internationally as a result.

- Tim Brown, The Oregonian/OregonLive | @timfsbrown

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Previously: Ron Wyden attends Trail Blazers home playoff game, talks about Enes Kanter