Ilber Ortayli's first comment on 'Grey Wolf' controversy: He cites Ataturk as an example
The 'Grey Wolf' gesture made by national football player Merih Demiral after scoring the goals that brought victory to Turkey in the match against Austria has become a major topic of discussion. Historian Prof. Dr. Ilber Ortayli commented on the ongoing debate, stating, "Ataturk also used the grey wolf symbol; drawing a parallel with the Nazis is absurd. The grey wolf is a symbol of the Turkish nation."
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The celebration of the victory by Merih Demiral with a 'Grey Wolf' gesture during the match where the Turkish National Football Team defeated Austria has sparked controversy. While UEFA has launched an investigation into the celebration, debates have begun in Turkey regarding whether the symbol is political or historical.
Historian Prof. Dr. Ilber Ortayli shared his assessments regarding the 'Grey Wolf' debate currently on the agenda.
According to the report by Musa Kesler from Hürriyet, “In Turkish history, the ‘Grey Wolf’ is a symbol, an idol. It is not just the symbol of a single party or group. We are not a desert people; we are a nation that comes from the steppes. Therefore, the wolf is an important and meaningful symbol for us." Ortayli continued as follows:
"It has epics and stories. As a species, it is also very resilient. The wolf is an animal that can fight without leaning its back on anything, without needing to guarantee its position. It is very skilled in terms of fighting for survival. It hunts in packs, but it is also very determined and resistant on its own. Therefore, it has a distinct symbolic value and importance for nations that fight for survival and freedom. It was also present as a symbol during the War of Independence. The state used it a lot. It is present in works of art. It concerns no one else. Drawing a parallel with the swastika and the Nazis is absurd. The grey wolf is not a symbol that came out of someone's head and was produced later. It has a historical depth that expresses a nation's determination and resolve to struggle. I do not know if it has a connection to the wolf of Rome (which raised Remus and Romulus), but other nations have used it too. The Hungarians, for example. Furthermore, that symbol is used along the Volga River. Foreigners also called Ataturk ‘Grey Wolf’. Ataturk also adopted the grey wolf symbol. It was used on coins; remember that era. It was a symbol in other places as well. Due to the political climate of the time, those symbols were removed after the Second World War."