Merih Demiral celebrated Turkey’s winning goal at Euro 2024 with the so-called wolf salute, symbol of the Gray Wolves – Who are they – Their ideology – Why are they under surveillance by the German authorities?
The movement of a Turkish football player, related to the Gray Wolves, has caused a stir after the goal he scored in the round of 16 against Austria (2-1).
In particular, Turkey’s national football team triumphed on Tuesday, defeating Austria in a Euro 2024 Round of 16 match in Leipzig, Germany, and advanced to the quarterfinals. But defender Merih Demiral, who scored both of Turkey’s goals in the 2-1 win, drew attention for unsporting reasons when he celebrated his victory with a hand gesture associated with far-right, ultra-nationalist symbolism.
UEFA, European football’s governing body, has launched an investigation into Demiral, who could face punishment. That’s because the so-called wolf salute—putting the thumb, middle finger and index finger together to mimic the shape of a wolf’s head—is the symbol of the Gray Wolves, an ultranationalist Turkish group also known as the Idealist Homes or Ulku Ocaclari.
The gesture is legally banned in Austria, but not in Germany, where a similar ban is being debated.
Who are the Gray Wolves?
The symbol made headlines in Germany almost a year ago after Mesut Özil, a former German national team star, also caused a stir when a photo with his fitness coach revealed his tattoo of a howling wolf and three crescent moons – typical symbols of Gray Wolves. The plan has been at the center of debate in Germany, where he was born and raised in a family of Turkish immigrants.
The gray wolf is an important figure for Turkish far-right extremists. According to mythology, a gray wolf saved the ancestors of the Turkic peoples from enemies and helped them gain great power. Therefore, the wolf is for many a symbol of power.
The three crescents, in turn, were present on the Ottoman war flag. Today they represent the logo of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP), which has been Turkish President Erdogan’s biggest ally for years.
The ideology of the Gray Wolves
The ideology of the Gray Wolves is characterized by the German authorities as highly nationalistic, anti-Semitic and racist, hostile to Kurds, Jews, Armenians and Christians, convinced of the superiority of the Turkish nation. The Gray Wolves have committed many atrocities and murders in the past and particularly during the 1970s. According to the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), their aim is to create a homogeneous state of all Turkish peoples under Turkish leadership – from the Balkans to western China.
According to extremism researcher Kemal Bozai, there are two main currents within the Gray Wolves: on the one hand, the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) and, on the other, the Greater Unity Party (BBP). According to the BfV, the Gray Wolves were “born” out of the ultra-nationalist MHP.
Gray Wolves in Europe
The Gray Wolves are organized throughout Europe. In 2007, the umbrella organization Turkish Confederation in Europe was founded in Frankfurt, in order to organize the various branches in Europe.
Across Europe there have been several conflicts, particularly between the Gray Wolves and the Kurds. In 2019, Austria criminalized the display of Gray Wolves symbols, and in 2020, France banned local chapter action. On November 18, 2020, the Bundestag decided to consider banning Gray Wolves. So far, however, to no avail.
Security authorities in Germany believe there are approximately 12,500 members of the Gray Wolves in the country, approximately 10,500 of whom are organized into associations.
The largest Gray Wolf organizations
The Gray Wolves are organized into three major associations in Germany. The association with the largest number of members is the Turkish Democratic Union of German Idealists, or ADÜTDF for short, which represents the interests of the MHP, an ally of Erdogan. With more than 7,000 members in German territory, the ADÜTDF is the largest umbrella organization of the Gray Wolves, counting 160 local associations.
The second active association is the Association of Turkish-Islamic Cultural Associations in Europe (ATIB). According to the BfV it has 1,200 members and is organized into 25 local chapters across the country. It was founded in 1987 by a well-known member of the Ülkücü movement, who is said to have given pay and the deadly weapon to the man who attempted to assassinate Pope John Paul II.
The third umbrella organization of the Gray Wolves is called the World Order Federation in Europe (ANF), which also has 1,200 members in about 15 local chapters in Germany. ANF represents the interests of the Islamist-ultranationalist Greater Unity Party (BBP), which is also part of Erdogan’s coalition. Numerous political assassinations in Turkey have been attributed to the BBP, whose members were also allegedly involved in the murder of Armenian journalist Harad Dink in Istanbul.
Source :Skai
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