Merih Demiral did it, he sat at the top of the agenda! So what is this Grey Wolf sign?

The center-back player of the Turkish National Team, Merih Demiral, made headlines with his two goals in the match against Austria and the wolf gesture he made after the match. So what does this gesture mean, which UEFA has initiated an investigation into following Germany's complaint? Is it a political symbol or a symbol of the Turkish nation?

"THE WOLF GUIDES THE TURKISH ARMY"

Dr. Savaş Eğilmez, a faculty member at Atatürk University's Department of History, stated that the wolf holds a significant place in Turkish history, especially in epics, legends, and stories. He said, "The wolf, which is agile, strong, and able to survive in very difficult conditions, has been accepted as a symbol of the Turkish nation's life and fighting power throughout history. The motif of the wolf has been carefully handled in the Göktürk epics, and the revival of the Turks has been associated with this motif. In their legends, it is mentioned that the ancestor of the Aşına family, who were the rulers of the Göktürks, was a female wolf. In another Turkish narrative, the Oğuz Khan epic, a wolf that speaks from within a light guides the Turkish army. The wolf-headed banner erected in front of the tents of the Göktürk khans became a symbol of the khans in the Turks. However, this tradition is not unique to the Göktürks and has been used by many other Turkish states before and after them. The Turks attributed sacred qualities to the wolf they lived together with on the steppes, and then they thought that they themselves were also wolves in terms of the characteristics they possessed and likened their rulers to wolves."

"A DISTINCTIVE ELEMENT SPECIFIC TO TURKS"

Dr. Savaş Eğilmez explained that research conducted in almost every field of social sciences has revealed that the wolf motif is a distinctive element specific to Turks. He said, "The wolf figure in Turks is reflected in epics, proverbs, idioms, plant names, place names, personal names, mythology, beliefs and doctrines, paintings and sculptures, and motifs in handicrafts, giving rise to the emergence, development, and survival of a wolf cult. It is possible to come across the Turkish motif in contemporary Turkish literature as well. For example, Halide Edip, Kemal Tahir, Yahya Kemal, Atilla İlhan have included glimpses of Turkish society with the wolf figure in some of their works. In recent research, 18 plant names, 19 place names, 27 personal names, 55 proverbs and idioms related to the name "wolf" have been identified. The wolf motif observed in all areas of life among Turkish societies has become integrated with Turkish cultural life. The wolf has become a symbol of political dominance in the Turks who have established great empires. In Chinese annals, it is mentioned that the Turks originated from wolves and that the wolf is a symbol of sovereignty and bravery for the Turks."

"THE ANIMAL CONSIDERED SACRED BY MANY TRIBES"

Eğilmez stated that one of the Turkish war strategies is called the "Wolf tactic" and added, "In the sources, it is also stated that 'Western Turks hang the head of a female wolf on top of their flags.' The figure of a wolf's head has been used on some flags and banners used by the Turks in history. The warriors who formed the guard unit of the khan in the Göktürks were called 'böri.' One of the most important parts of historical Turkish war strategy is named the Wolf Tactic. In some Turkish states, the title "İlteber," which also means wolf, was given to the heads of tribes. Many tribes have an animal that they consider sacred. However, none of them have a relationship as historical, cultural, and powerful as the relationship between the Turkish nation and the wolf."

"HISTORY WILL NEVER ALLOW IT"

Dr. Savaş Eğilmez recalled that Turkish national team player Merih Demiral celebrated his goal against Austria by making the wolf gesture and said, "After this celebration, which is embraced by the entire Turkish nation, anti-Turkish circles took action, and UEFA initiated an investigation against our national player. It would be very wrong to see this only as UEFA's own initiative. Because Nancy Feaser, the German Minister of the Interior, the Israeli media, and the Armenian diaspora based in America, who could not accept Merih Demiral's national celebration, immediately took action and put pressure on UEFA. The Armenian diaspora even launched a campaign to ban Merih from international competitions. This investigation and anti-Turkish rhetoric are unacceptable. Merih's celebration has embraced the Turkish nation and has been a strong message to Turkish culture and history. No matter what anyone does or says, they cannot ban or erase the wolf, which is so strongly connected to the political, social, and cultural life of the Turkish nation. History will never allow it."

ATATÜRK USED IT

The wolf is now a symbol of Turkish nationalism. It was declared a national symbol by Atatürk and used in many places. In the early years of the Republic, wolf images were printed on Turkish currency.

KILIÇDAROĞLU ALSO MADE THE WOLF GESTURE

The wolf gesture has been used by figures of various political views in Turkey, from social democrats to political Islamists and nationalists. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, known for his social democratic identity, greeted the people by making the wolf gesture during his visit to Kayseri in 2017 to say "no" to the Constitutional Amendment Referendum.

President Erdoğan is also one of the leaders who use the wolf gesture.