EM “Xenophobic”
Türkiye summons German ambassador over criticism of wolf salute
Status: 03.07.2024 | Reading time: 2 minutes
“Openly a symbol of the right-wing extremist Grey Wolves”
After his second goal, Turkish national player Merih Demiral makes the so-called wolf salute with both hands. “These are typical reflexes that come from the Turkish nationalist milieu,” says author Eren Güvercin.
Merih Demiral’s wolf salute gesture has heated up tempers. In Turkey, there is angry criticism of UEFA’s investigation into the Turkish national player. The sports minister also speaks out – and even the German ambassador is summoned.
Following criticism from Berlin of Merih Demiral’s controversial wolf salute, Turkey has summoned the German ambassador in Ankara. This was reported by several news agencies, citing diplomatic circles. “The reactions of the German authorities to Mr. Demiral are themselves xenophobic,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.
Demiral formed the hand sign and symbol of the “Grey Wolves” with both hands after his second goal in Leipzig during the 2-1 win against Austria in the round of 16 of the European Championship. UEFA has launched an investigation against the Turkish defender. A ban for the quarter-finals against the Netherlands is possible.
This decision also sparked outrage in Turkey. The move was “extremely biased and wrong,” said the head of the ultra-nationalist MHP, Devlet Bahceli. UEFA was thus jumping on the “evil bandwagon” of those “who are obviously hostile to the Turks and Turkey.” Bahceli described the initiation of proceedings by the European Football Association as a “provocation.”
The Turkish Minister of Sports Dr. Osman Aşkın Bak made a telling statement about the incident during Turkey’s round of 16 match against Austria (2:1). The politician published a photo of the goal celebration on his X-profile and wrote: “There is no reason to write much…”.
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The supporters of the right-wing extremist “Ülkücü movement”, which is monitored by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution in Germany, are called “Grey Wolves”. In Turkey, the ultra-nationalist MHP is their political representative and an ally of the Islamic-conservative AKP of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Outrage in German politics
Meanwhile, people in Germany are outraged by the gesture. “The symbols of Turkish right-wing extremists have no place in our stadiums,” said Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser on X. It is unacceptable to use the European Football Championship as a platform for racism. Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir also believes the message is “right-wing extremist, stands for terror, fascism.”
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“It is scandalous that the federal government has been delaying a ban on the Islamist-Turkish organization and its fascist symbolism for years,” said Sevim Dağdelen, foreign policy spokeswoman for the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, calling for a ban on the right-wing extremist group.
