Preamble:
On the 6th of July 2024, Turkiye played against the Netherlands in the European Football championships in the Olympic Stadium of Berlin. During the commencement of the Turkish national anthem, thousands of Turkish fans were raising their arms and forming the wolf salute. This is a salute used by followers of the “Grey Wolves”. “Grey Wolves” is a term used to refer to the “Ülkücü” movement. Their symbol is the grey wolf (Turkish: Bozkurt). The movement was founded in the 1960s by Alparslan Türkeş and represents a racist-nationalist ideology based on the historical and moral superiority of Turkic peoples, discriminating against those who deviate from this view. The Grey Wolves believe in part in the restoration of the Ottoman empire and have persecuted leftists, Christians, Jews and Yazidi, as well as people of Kurdish, Armenian, Assyrian and Alevi heritage. The ideology and sub-groups of the Grey Wolves have spread throughout Europe, which has increased the dangers faced by affected minorities in Europe.
EUJS notes that:
1. The ideology, symbols and sub-groups of the “Grey Wolves” have increased in Europe.
2. The political arm of the Grey Wolves, the MHP Party in Turkiye, is a coalition member of the current Turkish government.
3. The Directorate of Religious Affairs in Turkiye (Diyanet), which is under the control of the Turkish government (including MHO), controls a large number of Mosques & islamic community centres across Europe.
4. The “Grey Wolves” in Germany are monitored by the German Federal Office for the
Protection of the Constitution (BfV), which classifies the group as a “significant threat
to the free democratic order.”
5. In the past, Austria and France have outlawed the wolf salute and France has also
outlawed the Grey Wolves.
6. The European Parliament urged the 27 member states of the European Union in 2021 to designate the Grey Wolves as a terrorist organisation.
EUJS believes that:
1. The “Grey Wolves” pose an imminent threat to affected minorities in Europe.
2. Turkish ultra-nationalist ideology & groups in Europa have not been sufficiently
addressed and too often ignored.
3. The “Diyanet” is supporting the spread of harmful ideology through its subsidiaries in Europe.
4. Minorities should be able to live a life of safety and one free of discrimination in Europe.
EUJS resolves to:
- Collaborate with other affected student minority groups in Europe to combat Turkish ultranationalist ideology.
- Advocate for the ban of the “wolf salute” and the designation of the “Grey wolves” as a terror organisation by the 27 member states of the European Union.
- Advocate for a harsher political course against Turkish fascism by Jewish organisations in Europe.
- Educate youth civic spaces on the dangers faced by minorities, who are threatened by the Grey Wolves.
