Gestures can have different meanings in different cultures. These differing interpretations of gestures underscore the challenges of intercultural communication and emphasize the need for a sensitive approach to symbols in multicultural societies.
A recent example during the 2024 European Soccer Championship (Euro 2024) in Germany is the debate surrounding the Turkish Wolf Salute and the German Silent Fox – two nonverbal hand signals that could hardly be more different in their meanings.
- The Silent Fox (“Schweigefuchs” in German) is a friendly, educational hand signal used in German schools and kindergartens.ts linguistic composition combines “Schweige-” (be silent) and “Fuchs” (fox), and it serves to nonverbally request silence from children.
- In contrast, the Wolf Salute (“Wolfsgruß” in German, “Bozkurt selamı” in Turkish ) is a politically charged symbol associated with Turkish ultranationalism. The term “Wolfsgruß” is composed of “Wolf” (wolf) and “Gruß” (greeting/salute). The Wolf Salute is used as an identifier by the far-right group “Grey Wolves” (“Bozkurtlar” in Turkish) and is considered extremist in many European countries. In Turkey, however, it is often seen as a general patriotic symbol.
Following the recent controversy involving Turkish soccer player Merih Demiral, who displayed the contentious Wolf Salute at Euro 2024, an old debate has been reignited:
How should we handle gestures that have different meanings in various cultures?
This incident highlights the complex relationship between the far-right Wolf Salute, originating from Turkish culture, and the Silent Fox, an educational gesture used in German-speaking countries – two hand signs that are identical but convey fundamentally different messages. In Turkey, the Wolf Salute is often used as a general patriotic symbol, but in many European countries, it’s viewed as an expression of extremist ideology.
The Demiral case at Euro 2024
What happened? During a match between Turkey and Austria at Euro 2024, Turkish player Merih Demiral celebrated his goal by making a hand gesture known as the Wolf Salute. Demiral’s repeated use of the wolf greeting at Euro 2024 garnered international attention.
The Union of European Soccer Associations (UEFA) suspended Turkish soccer player Merih Demiral for two matches due to his display of the wolf greeting at Euro 2024. UEFA emphasized that extremist symbols have no place in sports and that appropriate measures are necessary to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all participants.
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Other Turkish soccer players, such as Cenk Tosun, Emre Belözoğlu, and Hakan Çalhanoğlu, have also displayed the wolf greeting in the past, leading to controversies and UEFA investigations.
Politically, the incident caused friction. The ambassadors of both states were summoned.
Soccer as the heart of European culture
Why has the case Demiral come into focus right now? The significance of soccer in Europe is the answer.
Soccer in Europe is not just a sport; it is a fundamental part of the cultural identity of many countries and a unifying element across national borders. It is known as the “number one popular sport” and plays a central role in daily life and national holidays. Economically, the soccer industry in Europe is a major sector, generating billions of euros and creating numerous jobs.
A prime example of the importance of soccer in Europe is the Euro 2024, which is the second-largest soccer tournament in the world after the FIFA World Cup. The Euro 2024 in Germany attracts millions of viewers and is a celebration of international understanding and cultural exchange. Against this backdrop, the case of Demiral has gained particular and explosive significance.
Not a new phenomenon: The Double Eagle Salute at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
This incident is part of a series of similar controversies where political symbols in sports sparked discussions. A notable example is the Double Eagle Salute by Swiss national soccer players of Kosovar descent at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. This gesture, symbolizing the Albanian flag, led to heated debates and fines by FIFA.
Such incidents illustrate how political symbols in sports can lead to international tensions and how sports organizations respond.
The Wolf Salute: A symbol with dark sides
The Wolf Salute,
- where the thumb, ring, and middle fingers form a wolf’s snout
- while the index and little fingers represent ears,
is the hallmark of the Turkish far-right movement “Grey Wolves.” It is deeply rooted in Turkish founding myths, where wolves are glorified as saviors and forefathers of the Turkish people.
The ideology of the Grey Wolves is classified by German authorities as extremely nationalist, anti-Semitic, and racist. Their enemies include Kurds, Jews, Armenians, and Christians. According to the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), their goal is to establish a homogenous state of all Turkic peoples under Turkish leadership – from the Balkans to western China.
Political instrumentalization
Since the 1960s, the wolf greeting has been used by the far-right Turkish party MHP and its youth organization “Grey Wolves.” It stands for Turkish ultranationalism, pan-Turkism, and partially Islamist ideologies.
This political instrumentalization has given the wolf greeting a highly polarizing significance, far beyond its original mythological symbolism. The use of the wolf greeting in political and social contexts often serves to propagate extreme nationalist and racist ideologies.
The Silent Fox: An educational tool under scrutiny
Interestingly, the Wolf Salute bears a striking resemblance to another hand gesture commonly used in German-speaking countries: the Silent Fox, also known as the Quiet Fox, Whisper Fox, or Listening Fox. This hand signal, widely used in elementary schools and kindergartens, aims to nonverbally urge children to be quiet. The gesture is identical to the Wolf Salute, which has recently led to confusion and discussions.
The origin of the Silent Fox as an educational tool is not clearly documented. Various sources suggest that it does not have a single inventor or specific introduction date. Instead, the gesture seems to have developed organically from educational practice and spread through informal exchange between educators and teachers.
Speculative origins and popularity
Some speculations, such as those from the internationally successful learning platform Babbel.com (with over 16 million subscribers since its founding), suggest a connection to the German version of the TV show “Supernanny” from the early 2000s. However, this claim cannot be verified by independent sources and remains speculative.
The wide spread and general popularity of the Silent Fox in German educational institutions suggest that it may have been in use for a long time. For instance, a recent article in the german daily newspaper “Märkische Oderzeitung” mentions that teachers and kindergarten educators in Brandenburg have been using the Quiet Fox for “decades” to ask children for silence.
A prominent example of the Silent Fox’s popularity in the general public is the 2013 comedy film “Fack ju Göhte” (intentional misspelling of “Fuck you, Goethe”, according to the german polymath and writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe). It was released in the United States under the title “Suck Me Shakespeer”. In this film the Silent Fox is depicted as part of the german school routine.
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For context: The “Fack ju Göhte” trilogy was the most successful German film comedy of the 2010s, with over 21 million cinema-goers in Germany. The total box office revenue of the entire series is estimated to be over 200 million euros.
Youth in the tension field of symbols
For many young people in Germany with Turkish, Kurdish, or Armenian migration backgrounds, the Wolf Salute has a complex and often ambivalent meaning. It often serves as an expression of cultural and national identity without the users necessarily identifying with the extremist ideology of the Grey Wolves.
In multicultural classrooms, this situation is further complicated by the similarity to the Silent Fox. While the Silent Fox is considered a harmless educational tool in Schools in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, it can be interpreted differently by students from various cultural backgrounds.
- For Turkish students, it may appear as a political symbol,
- while Kurdish or Armenian students might see it as a provocation.
- There is also the risk that a wolf greeting could be shown under the guise of the Silent Fox.
This ambivalence poses special challenges for schools and teachers. In a heterogeneous classroom community, the ambiguous gesture can cause discomfort and provide a breeding ground for misunderstandings.
Challenges for education and integration in Germany
The debate over the Silent Fox presents new challenges for educators, especially in multicultural classes. The Ministry of Education in Baden-Württemberg already recommended in 2017 to forgo the Silent Fox after parents pointed out potential misunderstandings.
In July 2024, Bremen’s education authority became the first federal state to completely ban the Silent Fox gesture.
Experts are divided on this issue. Some consider the “banishment” of the Silent Fox as exaggerated and believe that the concern over confusion, particularly in elementary schools, is unfounded. Others welcome the measure and emphasize the importance of sensitive handling of intercultural contexts.
The role of teachers with Turkish or German backgrounds is particularly important in this context. They can serve as role models for intercultural coexistence and at the same time sensitize students to issues of racism and right-wing extremism. Training and awareness-raising measures for teachers are therefore crucial to prepare them for these complex challenges.
Recommendations from the German Teachers’ Association
As reported by german weekly newspaper “DIE ZEIT”, the German Teachers’ Association also warns of possible confusion in schools:
Stefan Düll, the association’s president, recommends increased sensitization of teachers. When using the silent fox, its educational meaning should be explained. In case of uncertainties, Düll advises forgoing the gesture and using alternative methods to calm children. These recommendations underline the ongoing relevance and sensitivity of the issue in education.
Matthias Schneider of the teachers’ union GEW already stated in 2017 according to the daily newspaper “Schwäbische Zeitung”:
“If the symbol can cause irritation, it is good if it is no longer used.” He added that there are many other ways to ensure silence in the classroom.
Legal Handling of the Wolf Salute in Europe: A Country Comparison
The legal handling of the Wolf Salute varies greatly between different European countries. These differences reflect the respective legal, historical, and political contexts:
Germany:
- The Wolf Salute is currently not banned.
- The “Grey Wolves” are classified as right-wing extremist by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and are monitored.
- Banning the symbol would require banning the entire organization, which faces high legal hurdles.
Austria:
- The Wolf Salute has been banned since 2019.
- It is listed among prohibited extremist symbols.
- Use of the symbol can be punished with fines of up to €4,000 or imprisonment for up to one month.
France:
- The “Grey Wolves” organization is banned.
- Consequently, the use of their symbols, including the Wolf Salute, is prohibited.
Other EU Countries:
- Many EU countries do not have specific laws regarding the Wolf Salute.
- Some countries are considering bans or have general laws against hate symbols.
These different approaches highlight the challenges in regulating political symbols in Europe:
- Freedom of Speech vs. Protection from Extremism: Countries must balance protecting free speech and combating extremist ideologies.
- Legal Complexity: A ban often requires comprehensive legal steps, as in Germany, where the entire organization would first need to be banned.
- Cultural Sensitivity: The meaning of the symbol can vary in different contexts, complicating legislation.
It is important to understand that in Europe, each state has its own laws on political symbols, even though there are EU-wide efforts towards harmonization. The debate over the Wolf Salute illustrates the complexity of dealing with political symbols in multicultural societies.
Political Reactions to the Wolf Salute in Germany
However, Merih Demiral’s Wolf Salute at Euro 2024 has reignited the debate in Germany about handling far-right symbols. There is talk of a ban, which would inevitably also affect the Silent Fox due to its identical symbolism.
It should be noted that political debates in Germany can be very nuanced and detailed, a characteristic of its multi-party system with several major and some smaller parties in the Bundestag (english: Federal Parliament of Germany). Here is an overview of the main parties and their current or recent positions on the Wolf Salute:
- The Greens: governing party, left, environmentally oriented. Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir, who has Turkish roots, calls for a ban on the Wolf Salute. Parliamentary Secretary Irene Mihalic supports UEFA’s investigation of the incident.
- CDU (Christian Democratic Union): Center-right, conservative. The party supports a ban on the Wolf Salute and has decided in Baden-Württemberg that membership in the “Grey Wolves” is incompatible with CDU membership.
- SPD (Social Democratic Party): governing party, center-left. Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser sharply condemns the Wolf Salute. SPD politician Nils Schmid refers to a cross-party resolution of the Bundestag in 2020 to examine a ban on the Ülkücü movement.
- The Left and the Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW): Left. Both call for a ban on the “Grey Wolves” and criminalization of the Wolf Salute.
- FDP (Free Democratic Party): governing party, liberal, economically oriented. Interior expert Linda Teuteberg advocates for examining a ban on the “Grey Wolves.”
- AfD (Alternative for Germany): Right-wing populist. There are currently no publicly known statements from the AfD regarding the Wolf Salute or the Grey Wolves in connection with Euro 2024 or in recent times. The last known position of the AfD on this issue dates back to 2020, when the party submitted a motion in the Bundestag calling for a ban on the Grey Wolves. This motion was rejected, while a watered-down motion from the governing coalition and other parties was adopted. Alexander Gauland, former co-chair of the AfD, called for a ban on the Grey Wolves in 2020, describing the organization as “Erdoğan’s extremist brigade” (referring to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan).
Despite different political orientations, most parties have taken a critical stance on the Wolf Salute. The demands range from investigations to outright bans. This cross-party rejection underscores the urgency and significance of the issue in German politics.
Experts emphasize that the Wolf Salute is a far-right symbol but is currently not punishable in Germany. A ban would require strict legal criteria and lies within the responsibility of the Federal Ministry of the Interior.
The identical symbol to the contentious Wolf Salute poses a dilemma for educators in Germany: on one hand, a potential ban on the Wolf Salute could affect the trusted Silent Fox; on the other, there is growing understanding of the need for clear delineation given the increased public awareness. This unintended collision between a harmless educational tool and a politically charged symbol underscores the complexity of the debate.
