Berlin, July 3, 2024 - During yesterday's European Championship round-of-16 match between Austria and Turkey in Leipzig, Turkish national team player Merih Demiral gave the "wolf salute" of the right-wing extremist "Ülkücü Movement", also known as the "Grey Wolves", in celebration after scoring a goal. AJC Berlin is appalled by this open display of right-wing extremism and calls on UEFA to suspend Demiral from future matches at the European Championship.

AJC Berlin Director Dr. Remko Leemhuis comments: "During this year's European Championship, there have been repeated incidents of right-wing extremism involving fans. These incidents were and are unacceptable. The fact that a player is now using his goal celebration to pay tribute to a deeply racist and antisemitic movement brings the issue to a new level. UEFA, which has taken up the cause of combating racism with its “Respect” campaign, must not accept this open display of right-wing extremism. We expect UEFA to act consistently and make full use of its sanction options. Otherwise, it will not only lose credibility, but will also position itself morally ‘offsides.’"

Turning to German politics, Leemhuis continues: "With over 12,000 followers, the Grey Wolves are the largest right-wing extremist group in Germany. The danger that this group poses to Jews and to the Kurdish, Yazidi, Armenian and Alevi communities has long been ignored by politicians. Although the Office for the Protection of the Constitution now recognizes the danger posed by the Grey Wolves, the movement itself or the display of the "wolf salute" are still not banned. A proposal for such a ban was submitted to the federal government in 2020. It is unacceptable that politicians continue to tolerate the fact that the Grey Wolves, through ATIB (Union of Turkish-Muslim Cultural Associations), are active within the Central Council of Muslims in Germany."

For more information on the Gray Wolves, please see our brochure, "Turkish Right-Wing Extremism in Germany - The Gray Wolves" (In German). For press inquiries, please contact presse@ajc.org.