Turkish Footballer's Goal Celebration Sparks Diplomatic Tension Between Germany and Turkey
The recent goal celebration by Turkish footballer Merih Demiral at the European Championship has sparked a diplomatic exchange between Germany and Turkey. Demiral displayed the rightwing extremist wolf salute associated with the Grey Wolves group after scoring in Turkey's round of 16 match against Austria. This gesture led to Germany summoning Turkey's ambassador to explain the symbol and take measures to prevent its further use. The Grey Wolves, classified as a rightwing extremist group, have a significant presence in Germany with 18,500 to 20,000 members, making it the second-largest rightwing extremist organization in the country. Despite years of debate, the group and the symbol are not banned in Germany, unlike in neighboring Austria and France.
The Turkish diaspora in Germany, comprising 1.54 million people, along with 1.4 million German citizens of Turkish descent, celebrated the national team's success in the Euros. However, the controversial gesture by Demiral drew criticism from Germany's interior minister Nancy Faeser, who condemned its racist undertones. She called on UEFA to investigate and potentially sanction the Turkish team, although a decision is yet to be made regarding this matter.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a last-minute adjustment to his travel plans to show support for the national team amid the fallout from the Demiral salute. The wolf salute, the Grey Wolves' symbol, represents a hardline nationalist and Islamist worldview that espouses hatred towards various groups, including Kurds, Jews, Christians, Armenians, Greeks, the EU, and the US. The group, with a history of terrorism dating back to the 1970s, has been linked to several violent acts globally.
Demiral defended his gesture by stating that it was a reflection of his Turkish identity and pride, with no hidden message behind it. The ongoing tension surrounding the wolf salute highlights the intersection of sports, nationalism, and extremism in the context of international relations between Germany and Turkey.
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