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Oct. 8, 2025 - Sean Hannity Show
27:45
In The Name of Freedom - October 7th, Hour 3
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Here it is, the second anniversary of October the 7th, 2023.
And, you know, one of the things I often talk about on this program is we live in the greatest best country God gave man.
And we often take for granted the liberties and freedoms that so many fought, blood, and died for.
And it's natural.
I mean, you don't wake up every day.
Ah, I live in freedom.
You know, you wake up every day.
You know, you get the kids dressed, you get them ready for school.
You pack that lunch.
You drive them to school or you get them to the bus stop, whatever it happens to be.
And then you go off, you put in your 12, 13, 14 hours, whatever you work every day.
And you come home, you know put a meal together quick, and then you help them with their homework.
And then, you know, you shuffle into bed.
Hopefully you watch Hannity and your day's done.
And you get up and grind out the next day.
And you don't wake up and say, ah, I live in freedom.
However, when you have those quiet moments, those reflective moments, those introspective moments, which we all need in life, you realize, wow, we are blessed.
We're blessed beyond measure, blessed beyond what we deserve.
Ennis Freedom, whose story is unbelievable, joins us.
He wrote a brand new book.
We'll put it on Hannity.com.
It's on Amazon.com.
It's in bookstores around the country.
It's called In the Name of Freedom, a Political Dissidence Fight for Human Rights in the NBA and around the world here on the anniversary of October 7th to talk about those atrocities.
But it tells the story of Ennis Cantor.
And by the way, he was honored at the Patriot Awards a couple of years ago.
And I spent time with him and I realized just how amazing he is and what a life he's had.
But, you know, he came here from Turkey and now is an American citizen, Nobel Peace Prize nominee, a fierce advocate for human rights.
And he paid a price for speaking out and refused to stand as a native as his native country descended into this authoritarian dictatorship.
He made his opinion known to Erdogan, not a good guy in his regime, and they declared him an enemy of the state.
His father's still in Turkey was arrested, declared a terrorist, and his passport was revoked as he, you know, was made stateless.
Anyway, Ennis, great to have you back, sir.
How are you?
Thank you for having me, Sean.
I appreciate it.
I'm good.
How are you?
Well, it's a sad day.
I mean, it's a reminder.
You know, I mean, we're on the brink of maybe a deal in the Middle East.
And hopefully and prayerfully, we hope that that happens.
And the hostages that are both alive and dead are released.
And that maybe, you know, for the first time, Arab countries will step up and help that region of the world.
More hope than we've ever had in my lifetime for sure.
But why don't we go through your story?
Let's talk about your life and how you had a dream, how you made it to the NBA, and how you stood up against your country.
It was actually like we all started with a promise.
I remember I was nine years old.
I went downstairs to play with my friends who are not even teenagers.
And my friends, my little friends, they were burning American flags.
They were breaking crosses.
And I remember I asked one of my friends, like, guys, what are you doing?
They said, well, that's what we've seen on TV.
We should hate America.
We should hate the West.
We should hate the Christians.
And I'm like, what's the reason?
Well, they said, well, that's what our leader says.
So I remember one of my friends gave me a flag to burn it.
He gave me a flag.
He gave me a lighter and said, burn it.
I remember I just looked down.
I threw the flag down.
I ran upstairs to my mom.
I was like, mom, my friends are telling me they hate America, hate the West, hate the Christians.
What do I do?
My mom said, I'm not going to tell you what to do, but do not hate anyone before you meet them.
So that day, I give a promise to my mom.
And literally 17 years later, for the first time I came to America as a teenager.
I start meeting with Americans.
I start meeting with Christian people for the first time.
And I have realized that everything that I've been learning back in Turkey is just false.
So now I dedicated my whole life to inspire and educate the young generation so they can have a better understanding of America, a better understanding of what's going on around the world because of, especially Middle East, is the easiest way to brainwash people, use religion.
The problem is not Islam or anything.
The problem is with the politicians.
And unfortunately, they use that hate to be re-elected again.
And now I'm just literally dedicated my whole life to this cause so I can inspire the next generation.
For the first time, I do see hope.
And I really give a lot of credit to President Trump.
You know, this 20-point deal that he put together was not an easy deal.
There was a lot in there for Israel that they had to swallow a release of, you know, 1,200 prisoners and people that they know are their sworn enemies and disarming of Hamas and the return of the prisoners.
We'll know probably in the next 48 hours if this deal is going to come to fruition.
I'm hopeful.
I mean, we've never had so much hope, but he has also built relationships with Jordan and Egypt and Saudi Arabia and Qatar and the Emirates and other countries, maybe not necessarily Turkey and Erdogan.
Although he did lecture Erdogan recently, which I found refreshing because I think he needs it.
I think he's become more radicalized as the years have gone by.
And why he's still a member of NATO is somewhat surprising to me.
What are your thoughts as we listen to this?
And I want to play for you a pro-Palestine pro-Hamas, you know, as these protesters celebrate these October 7th attacks here two years later.
Listen.
Early morning on Saturday, October 7th, our resistance storms, illegal settlings, and paraglided across colonial borders.
From the river to the sea.
Palestine will be free.
Palestine will be free.
From the river to the sea.
From the river to the sea.
Palestine will be free.
Palestine will be free.
Glory to the martyrs!
To the Lennon!
They got gained.
We got hangwiers.
They got takes the fires.
Only to you that fighters.
Glory to the resistance fighters.
Free, free, far.
Free, free, palestine.
From the river to the sea, from the river to the sea.
Peace was falling back.
There is only one solution.
From the river to the sea means wiping Israel off the map.
You know, glory to the martyrs.
You have a mayoral candidate in New York that's leading the supports of global antifada.
That means the elimination of Israel, wiping it off the map, which is in Hamas's charter.
What's your reaction to that?
You know, throughout all this throttle, I still think that, you know, the peace is possible.
And I just, I'm really like praying and hoping that I hope the President Trump will step in and just bring this deal in and then actually we can have peace again.
Because people need to understand that there are, you know, thousands of tens of thousands of innocent people are on the streets are getting hurt on both sides, actually.
You know?
So I just hope, I'm just hoping that, you know, peace is possible, but we just need strong leaders.
We just need strong leaders like President Topic, like President Trump, to step in and say enough is enough, enough is the killing, and we got to stop it.
I was listening at President Trump's one of his interviews, and the reporter asked him, which side are you on?
Are you on Ukraine or Russia side?
And he gave an amazing answer.
He said, you know what?
I just want people to stop dying.
What an amazing answer.
So I just hope with this deal as well.
I just hope that people will stop dying because people behind the table are the ones that are giving the orders and innocent people on the streets are the ones that get hurt.
So we got to do whatever we can to bring awareness.
And also, like, this kind of, in this kind of a protest, I see, like, people are burning American flags and stuff.
What a disrespectful move that is.
Like, you live in America and you're disrespecting this country, right?
It just breaks my heart, man.
But I just hope that, you know, peace, we can bring peace again.
I believe, I'm hopeful that it's possible.
And I hope the President Trump will step in and bring the peace again to Middle East.
Let's go back to your personal story.
You talked about your mom and your friends burning the American flag.
Let's go to your story and how you left Turkey, how you made it to the NBA, and how your family is still to this day paying a price because you were not subservient to Erdogan and to the radicalism.
Oh, man.
You know, I mean, it's been 11 years, Sean, literally 11 years that I have not seen my mom, my dad, or my sister.
People keep talking about me losing my career because I spoke up about China's human rights violations and how NBA is tied up with China and stuff.
But people need to understand that I wanted to stand up for the human rights violations of political prisoners in Turkey.
I have not seen my family for 11 years.
They put my dad in jail.
Luckily that we put so much pressure from here to Turkey, they had to let him go.
It's been, I think the hardest thing that I'm just going through is what my family has to face.
My mom and my dad.
Do you still talk to them?
I can't.
Because if I talk to my mom or dad, if I pick up the phone, or if we have any kind of connection with them, it's an act of terrorism in Turkish government's eyes.
So that's why I cannot even pick up a phone and call my mom.
My brother plays basketball overseas, so I have to call my brother, and my brother has to tell me what's going on with my family.
I can barely remember the face of my mother right now.
And I mean, I understand Turkey is a very important ally to America.
Just like you said, though, Turkey.
I would say important, and they have been more important in the past, but as they become more radicalized, they're less and less important in my mind.
I mean, this is the country, like Turkey, Erdogan.
This is the dictator that gives passport to Hamas leaders so they can go in and out of European countries.
This is the leader that gives, you know, trust lots of weapons to Muslim Brotherhood.
Like, when are we going to say enough is enough and we have to take concrete actions against this regime?
You know, I understand, you know, we have an American airbase over there.
I understand Turkey is a NATO ally and the second strongest military in NATO.
But like, we cannot just let a NATO ally help the terrorist organizations out there.
You know?
So I hope that when this whole conflict ends in Middle East, President Trump can, you know, have like a serious conversation with Erdogan and push him to care about human rights violations in his country.
How did you make it to the NBA?
I went to University of Kentucky.
I want to give a huge shout out to John Khalipari.
He played a very important role in my basketball career.
After attending one year of University of Kentucky, I got drafted in 2011 by Utah Chess.
And then I played basketball since, you know.
And the thing is, I worked so hard my whole life to get it to NBA.
And it just breaks my heart how my career ended because I really thought we have freedom in America.
But it's crazy that I started to talk about the problems that are happening in China and now I am out of the league.
I mean, it blows my mind how the biggest dictatorship in the world, like China, put a pressure on 100% American-made organization like NBA and fire a U.S. citizen.
I'm just very, very confused with that.
We'll stay right there.
Ennis Freedom is with us.
He has a brand new book out, In the Name of Freedom, A Political Dissonance Fight for Human Rights in the NBA and around the world.
We'll pick it up where he left off on the issue of why he's not playing in the NBA right now and the influence that outside political influences that impacted him.
Quick break, right back.
We'll continue.
Anyway, Ennis Freedom is with us.
In the name of freedom, his brand new book, A Political Dissonance Fight for Human Rights in the NBA and Around the World.
If you missed the first part of our interview, he's not been able to talk to his family for 11 years.
He's a political exile from Turkey, now an American citizen, playing in the NBA, played in the NBA.
What happened that got you out of the NBA?
What was it in particular?
Because I remember at the time when this happened, I'm thinking, this doesn't make sense.
Well, I didn't lose, trust me, I didn't lose my place in NBA because I couldn't play.
I lost it because I choose to speak up.
You know, when I spoke out against all the human rights abuses by the Chinese government, I mean, I knew it might cost me something, but I never imagined it would cost me my career.
You know, more people watch NBA games in China than the American population last year.
So NBA makes billions of dollars from jersey sales, shoe sales, TV deals.
And this was never about politics or taking sides.
It was literally about something for literally basic human dignity.
You know, for the people who cannot speak freely, who are silent for simply wanting to live with freedom and respect.
So I had many conversations with my teammates, many conversations from the NBA foreign offices, and they all said the same thing.
They're like, listen, we believe what you're saying, but it's going to cost us millions of dollars.
So you can never say anything about the Chinese government or Nike's hypocrisy.
I mean, I'm talking about this sweatshops.
So it's sad to me because I was 29 years old when I started to speak up.
And my agent called me and he said, listen, I work for you.
I don't work for the NBA.
So I got to be honest with you.
If you say another word, if you say another word about the Chinese government, you are not going to play basketball ever again in NBA.
And this is going to cost you between $40 to $50 million.
The choice is yours.
I hang up the phone, I never talk to them again.
You know, it's crazy to me how much some organization and entities is controlled by the Chinese government.
I'm talking about NBA and Hollywood and academias and big tech and farmlands.
So I was like, I got to expose their hypocrisies.
What is it about you that you would do what probably maybe 1% of other NBA players would never do?
I mean, like empathy.
I put myself in other people's shoes.
While we are comfortably living in this country, living in the most luxurious houses and eating the most delicious food and sleeping in the most warmest bed, on the other side of the world, people are losing their loved ones, losing their lives, and losing their homes, you know, especially like, especially people in China.
I mean, look at Uyghurs.
Three million Uyghurs in concentration camp waiting for help.
Look at Tibetans.
Look at what's happening in Hong Kong.
Look at Taiwan.
So this was bigger than myself, bigger than basketball, bigger than NBA.
I mean, I might have lost basketball, but I found something bigger, a voice, a purpose, and the understanding of freedom that is not guaranteed.
It's something that we must defend, even when it's hard, you know.
And I hope this story, I know it cost me like $40, $50 million.
It cost me my basketball career or my family.
I mean, listen, I care about the future of our country.
I care about our world.
If you want to have a better and brighter future, we have to inspire and educate the next generation.
So we've got to do whatever we can to tell these people that freedom is very fragile and we should not take it for granted.
And we have to put ourselves in other people's shoes on the other side of the world.
What do you make of this rise of anti-Semitism in the halls of Congress?
As I said, it's happening on college campuses.
It's happening.
It's growing worldwide.
I hear it in the punditry class, people on radio and TV saying, you know, things that to me are extraordinarily ignorant.
You know, I'm not sure what part of murder, rape, torture, kidnapping, beheading, as I said, they don't understand.
But what do you make of it?
I mean, listen, I have so many Jewish friends around the world, and I'm actually having conversations with many of them.
And they're scared.
They're even scared to go to a synagogue.
They're scared to go outside.
They're scared to, you know, even like wear a Jewish star as a necklace.
And it just, it's, it's horrible, man.
You know, it's, it breaks my heart how much our world is divided right now when people literally hate each other with without knowing the other side.
And, but, I mean, that's why we need bridge builders inside of walls.
Listen, also like people need to understand this like very clearly.
Like our prophet, like not many people knows about this.
Our prophet, Prophet Muhammad, right, he said when we go to war, we have rules.
When a Muslim go to war, we cannot kill babies or women, elderly people.
We cannot knock down religious temples or church.
We are not allowed to even kill animals or cut down trees.
And this is our prophet.
If someone or a group that goes against this mentality, they don't represent Islam.
So I don't, I can clearly say that Hamas does not represent Islam, period.
Let me ask you about this because I think there's a misunderstanding.
I always make a distinction between Islam and radical Islamists because there is a difference.
And why do you think so many people have been indoctrinated into, and I believe one of the reasons that I think Arab nations have been reluctant to absorb part of the Palestinian population, and I've shown this on TV many, many times, is from the time children are born, for example, in Gaza.
They are shown cartoons that depict Jewish people in the most repulsive ways.
When they go to school, I've seen school books and I've shown them on TV.
Basically, it's like, oh, if you have 10 Jews, you kill seven.
How many more Jews do you have left to kill?
And that indoctrination has poisoned the minds of young children.
And I think there's been reluctance and resistance among neighboring nations to absorb that population because they don't want the radicalization in their country.
They already have problems with radicalization.
Right.
I mean, so, I mean, if you look at like, it's very funny because it doesn't happen in Turkey, but in some of the Middle Eastern countries, in schools, front of classes, say like, we have an American flag.
And if you don't step on this flag, you're not even allowed to, you're not even allowed to attend the class, and you will get bullied the rest of the school year, you know?
So it starts within a very early age when these dictatorships, unfortunately, just brainwashes this population who are uneducated and then pictures the West as a demon, as a monster.
And every kid growing up is believing that.
And like Islam itself is not the problem.
The extremism is, you know, and people who uses Islam or the holy book of Quran to brainwash people is the problem.
Or the Islam itself is not the problem, you know, because Islam is keep, I mean, according to what I read, I mean, I just told you that before, and we cannot like go to wars and do what Hamas did or do what Hezbollah is doing or do what ISIS is doing, you know?
So I hope to me that people understand the true meaning of Islam and just trying to wipe out that radicalism or extremism in our society.
Well, it's pretty unbelievable because there is a distinction and a difference.
And we all have to eventually just come to terms with and understand that we have to live together.
And do you see that day now beginning to approach?
Also, like, I mean, radical ideologies feed on hate and power, not on faith or, I think, spirituality.
Also, like, I think extremism, like, manipulates religion for political or personal gain.
And that's what all the leaders of those groups are doing.
They twist teachings to justify violence.
So no true faith calls for the killing of innocents or no true believer celebrates suffering.
So if someone does that, they don't represent true Islam.
Yeah.
Well, I really urge people.
First of all, you're a very special human being.
And I really urge people to get a copy of your book.
It's called In the Name of Freedom, a Political Dissonance Fight for Human Rights in the NBA and around the world.
It's on Hannity.com right now.
It's on Amazon.com right now.
And it's in bookstores now, as of today, all across the country.
And, you know, you don't really meet many people that really stand on core values and principles and put it all on the line.
And Ennis, you're one of them.
And I applaud you for all that you have been doing and will do as you continue your incredible journey.
I think God obviously has big plans for you in your life, and you're an inspiration to everybody.
And I just want you to know how much we appreciate you.
I hope everyone will go out and get this book and read it and have a deeper understanding and appreciation of the blessings of liberty that we were born with and probably too often take for granted.
NS Freedom, thank you, my friend.
Thank you so much, man.
I appreciate that.
800-941-Sean, our number, if you want to be a part of the program.
Don is in Oklahoma.
Don, hi.
How are you?
Glad you called, sir.
Hey, Sean, thanks for taking my call.
My pin drop is actually out far western Oklahoma with some of the greatest, friendliest patriots in the country, right up there with the people of South Alabama.
My heart goes out to the people of New York City because Mandani is going to soon make good on his promise to make bus rides free in the city.
But the problem is there won't be any seats on the bus because it'll be full of homeless.
Air conditioned in the summer, heated in the winter.
It's going to be madness.
And I think Linda's right in the middle of this mess, and I'd love to get Linda's take.
And she's got friends, and she has to go to the city.
And how is it?
No, she doesn't.
She actually doesn't have to go to the city.
She actually lives in Pennsylvania.
She chooses to go to the city because she refuses to listen to her boss.
I just thought she may have friends there that she travels to the city.
But, you know, unless you're flying in and taking an Uber, I don't know how you're going to get around.
But all the transportation is going to be full of homeless.
And it's inevitable when it's.
Yeah, it's pretty full now.
There's a lot of homeless now.
There's a lot of homeless on the subway.
A lot of rats on the platforms.
The trains are a mess.
Unfortunately, you know, Hokul is already a complete and utter loser.
And, you know, people are getting murdered, stabbed.
You just have to have your eyeballs open.
Mom Donnie's just going to make it worse because people are going to feel like they have no accountability because he's, you know, going to shut down all the prisons.
We're not going to, you know, prosecute anything.
So that's my bigger fear.
Wow.
Does that answer your question, Don?
That way now.
Well, I'm just so sorry it's that way now.
It's that it can only get worse once it's free.
Agreed.
You get what you vote for, right?
And my heart goes out to those folks, but maybe we need this for three or four years before the eyeballs are opened.
It's rough.
There's no doubt about it.
I'm just out of time, though.
I appreciate your call.
I want Curtis to win too, Linda.
You know what?
It's an uphill battle.
But I'm telling people, you got to try.
We've got to try what we've been doing these last three years.
All right, that's going to wrap things up for today.
Heated hearings with Pam Bondi today.
We get reaction.
FBI Director Cash Patel, Todd Blanche, number two at the DOJ, Lindsey Graham tonight, Senator Kennedy, Tommy Larin, and John Solomon.
Set your DVR at 9 Eastern.
Hannity on Fox.
We'll see you tonight back here tomorrow.
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