"Unbearable": Green politician von Notz criticizes wolf salute at Turkey match
Turkish football fans showed the Wolf Salute in chorus during the singing of the national anthem on Saturday evening. Merih Demiral, a Turkish defender, had previously done this in a previous game, resulting in a suspension of two matches by the European football association Uefa.
The Wolf Salute is a gesture of the Grey Wolves, a nationalist "Ülkücü" movement, which is labeled as right-wing extremist by the Federal Constitutional Protection. Therefore, it is characterized by elements such as racism, antisemitism, and an exaltation of Turkishness.
The Bundestag had already called on the Federal Ministry of the Interior at the end of 2020 in a resolution supported by Union, SPD, FDP, and Greens to examine a ban on the Grey Wolves. "That is absolutely right," said Notz. "The underlying questions have become more pressing."
The Federal Ministry of the Interior informed AFP on Saturday that it "cannot express itself on possible prohibition procedures in principle, in order not to endanger possible future measures."
- Merih Demiral's performance in the Turkey game was marred by his execution of the Wolf Salute, a gesture associated with the Grey Wolves.
- Konstantin von Notz, a Green politician, echoed the Bundestag's call for the Federal Ministry of the Interior to investigate a potential ban on the Grey Wolves following the incident.
- Hearing about the call for a potential ban, some Turkish football fans still performed the Wolf Salute during a UEFA game on Sunday, as reported by AFP.
- The Wolf Salute, a prominent symbol of the Grey Wolves, often includes a greeting towards wolves, which was also observed during the Turkey game.
- The Grey Wolves, a right-wing extremist "Ülkücü" movement in Turkey, is known for advocating views such as racism, antisemitism, and an exaggerated sense of Turkish nationalism.
- Despite the controversy surrounding the Grey Wolves and their symbolic gestures, the Federal Ministry of the Interior has yet to announce any specific plans for prohibition procedures, according to their statement on Saturday.
