The uproar surrounding Turkish footballer Merih Demiral’s celebration in the course of the Euro 2024 match towards Austria stems from a lack of know-how of Turkic tradition.
According to a Turkish historian, the gesture, forming a wolf’s head along with his fingers – generally known as the “Gray Wolf” signal – holds immense historic significance and “has nothing to do with racism.”
Urged by German officers, European soccer’s governing physique launched an investigation into the signal given by Demiral throughout Tuesday’s Euro 2024 conflict between Austria and Türkiye.
Ahmet Tasagil, a professor on the Turkish Language and Literature Department at Istanbul’s Yeditepe University, emphasised the historic significance of the image for the Turkish individuals.
“The wolf symbol is one of the most important symbols of the Turks,” Tasagil informed Anadolu Agency (AA).
“All Turkic tribes living in Central Asia used this symbol during the fourth and fifth centuries. It was first used by a Turkic tribe called the Wusuns in 174 B.C. By the A.D. fourth and fifth centuries, the wolf motif was adopted by the Turkic tribes known as the Kao-Ch’e.”
The image gained legendary standing in the course of the institution of the Turk Kaganate in A.D. 552, he mentioned.
“It was like the official document of the state. During the Gokturk period, princesses even used the gray wolf as a title. Therefore, it has nothing to do with racism; it is a historical symbol.”
He elaborated on the context by which the wolf image was used all through Turkish historical past.
“In the Ergenekon epic (from around 330 B.C.), the wolf is seen as a guide and leader. There’s also a belief from the Gokturk period that the Turks originated from a wolf.”
Wisdom image
Tasagil highlighted that sources from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries point out that the Turks, upon arriving in Anatolia, adopted a wolf, in response to Armenian, Syriac and different Middle Eastern legends.
“For the Turks, the wolf is a guiding figure, representing wisdom, strategy, and rescue in difficult times.”
“When the Republic of Türkiye was established (in 1923), the wolf appeared on paper money, in newspapers and on the emblems of national institutions,” he famous.
“Turkish state tradition has been very well represented by the Republic of Türkiye from past to present, and we never lost our independence, namely during the Seljukids, the Anatolian Seljuks – pre-Ottoman Turkic civilizations – the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Türkiye eras. So it’s normal for this symbol to still live on in the Republic of Türkiye.”
“However, other Turkic republics (in Central Asia) now don’t use this because they lived under the domination of Russians or other nations for a long time because of this.”
Europe’s far-right gasoline
Tasagil mentioned the controversy additionally displays the damaging rise of the far-right in Europe and its consequent political influence on numerous teams, fueling higher discrimination.
“I think the symbol is perceived politically today due to the rise of the far-right in Europe or policies against the Turks.”
“Otherwise, every nation uses its own symbols. European footballers comfortably use crosses or their national symbols on their jerseys. The French national symbol, the rooster, is prominently displayed on their jerseys, flags and banners. There’s no harm in Turks using their symbols either,” he added.
Türkiye hits again
UEFA introduced an investigation into the gesture made by Turkish defender Demiral throughout Türkiye’s Euro 2024 match towards Austria. After scoring a objective in Türkiye’s 2-1 victory, Demiral celebrated by making a hand signal resembling a wolf’s head.
The Grey Wolf signal is a profound historic and cultural emblem of the Turkish individuals, embodying Turkish id moderately than aligning with any explicit political or social faction. The image has been often utilized by leaders from numerous political backgrounds as a illustration of Turkish id.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned UEFA’s determination to analyze Demiral, calling it “unacceptable.” The ministry identified that even a report final September by the German spy company BfV mentioned the Grey Wolf signal mustn’t essentially be linked to right-wing extremism and that it isn’t a banned image in Germany.
After German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser mentioned on X, “The symbols of Turkish right-wing extremists have no place in our stadiums,” Türkiye summoned German Ambassador to Ankara Jurgen Schulz.
Source: www.dailysabah.com