Turkey summons German ambassador after Turkish footballer controversy

EPAMerih Demiral makes the Gray Wolf gesture after scoring in opposition to Austria

NOS Nieuws•gisteren, 21:16

The Turkish authorities is summoning the German ambassador to the carpet, due to the function that Euro 2016 host nation Germany is taking part in within the commotion surrounding Turkish defender Merih Demiral. The footballer gave the ‘wolf salute’, a logo of the ultra-nationalist and far-right Turkish group Gray Wolves, after considered one of his objectives within the spherical of 16 in opposition to Austria.

UEFA then launched an investigation, which may result in Demiral’s suspension. Nancy Faeser, Germany’s inside minister, known as for sanctions in a message on X. “The symbols of Turkish right-wing extremists don’t have any place in our stadiums,” she stated. “We count on UEFA to research the matter and take into account sanctions.”

‘Proud to be Turkish’

The Turkish Ministry of International Affairs calls this response unacceptable. The federal government factors out that the image shouldn’t be banned in Germany. The group itself can also be not banned in Germany. Nonetheless, the group is beneath surveillance there.

In keeping with Turkey, the footballer made a historic and nationwide gesture and had no unhealthy intentions. “The way in which I celebrated has one thing to do with my Turkish id,” Demiral himself stated after the match. “I noticed folks within the stadium who additionally made this gesture. There was no hidden message. We’re all Turks, I’m very proud to be Turkish and that’s the goal of this gesture.”

International editor Gülsah Ercetin:

“Turkey sees the response to Demiral as xenophobia. The federal government finds this response unacceptable. Not solely as a result of the right-wing nationalist get together MHP is working along with Erdogan’s get together, but additionally as a result of Turkey believes that the difficulty is being unfairly politicalized.

The Turks level to a examine carried out in Germany itself, which confirmed that not everybody who makes this gesture is an excessive right-wing nationalist. And the image shouldn’t be banned. Subsequently, in line with the Turkish authorities, the salute on this context ought to be seen as a logo of Turkish nationality.

Not everybody in Turkey agrees with Ankara. There are additionally many Turks who will not be proud of that expression and who do see the gesture as a political assertion from the far proper.”

The Gray Wolves are formally affiliated as a youth motion with the MHP, the Turkish right-wing nationalist get together that cooperates with President Erdogan’s AK Occasion.

Left-wing activists murdered

The Gray Wolves motion has a violent historical past. Within the Nineteen Seventies, there have been frequent violent confrontations between left-wing activists and the Gray Wolves, through which many left-wing activists and journalists have been murdered. In recent times, there have additionally been confrontations in Europe between Gray Wolves and Kurds and Armenians. In France, main brawls between Gray Wolves and Armenians led to a ban on the group in 2020.

It isn’t the primary time that soccer has led to diplomatic tensions between Germany and Turkey. After the 2018 World Cup, an enormous row erupted in Germany when Mesut Ozil, a Turkish-German participant for the German nationwide group, took an image with President Erdogan. The row escalated to the purpose that Ozil ultimately give up the German nationwide group and each Erdogan and then-Chancellor Angela Merkel intervened.