EM 2024: "openly a symbol of the grey wolves!" Scandal over fascist wolf salute after Turkey game 

EM 2024: "openly a symbol of the grey wolves!" Scandal over fascist wolf salute after Turkey game
Turkish national player Merih Demiral caused a stir with his celebration gesture during the 2-1 victory in the round of 16 against Austria. After his second goal in the Leipzig stadium, the 26-year-old made the so-called wolf salute with both hands, a symbol of the right-wing extremist Grey Wolves. Demiral explained after the game that he only wanted to greet his compatriots in the crowd and that there was no hidden message behind it.
The Grey Wolves are supporters of the right-wing extremist Ülkücü movement, which is monitored in Germany by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution. Journalist and author Eren Güvercin explains that these are typical reflexes from the Turkish nationalist and right-wing extremist milieu to relativize such gestures. This is not the first time that Demiral has attracted attention in this context and has shown symbols of the Turkish right-wing extremists on the field several times in the past.
Güvercin stresses that such gestures are not about national pride or greeting fans, but rather an open symbol of the Turkish right-wing extremist Grey Wolves. According to the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, this group is the largest right-wing extremist organization in Germany with 12,000 members. The phenomenon of the Grey Wolves is therefore present not only in Turkey, but also in Germany.
Despite being monitored by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the organization and the wolf salute are not banned in Germany. However, since 2020, the Bundestag has been commissioned to examine whether to ban the Grey Wolves. In countries such as France, the Grey Wolves are already banned, and in Austria at least the group's symbols are prohibited.
Güvercin believes that Germany's hesitant approach to the Grey Wolves is due to a mixture of a lack of awareness and political reasons. He stresses the threat that this ideology poses to minorities such as Kurds, Alevis and Armenians who live in Germany and have often fled persecution in Turkey. Showing the wolf salute is therefore not just folklore, but a threat to these minorities.
Güvercin appeals for awareness and the need for decisive action against right-wing extremist tendencies in Germany.
#greyewolves #turkey #worldnewschannel
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Video created in 2024