Prof. Dr. Bozdoğan: ‘Bozkurt, Türk’ün milli sembolüdür’

Merih Demiral, who was chosen as the man of the match by scoring 2 goals against Austria in the national team match, became a topic of discussion by making the Grey Wolf sign and received a 2-match ban from UEFA. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bozdoğan, who made a statement regarding the issue, said, ‘The Grey Wolf is a national symbol for us. The Grey Wolf mentioned in the ‘Epic of National Foundation’ and ‘Ergenekon Epic’ clearly shows that we have been using this symbol for centuries.’
Our national team, which advanced to the next round by defeating Austria in the EURO 2024 championship after passing the group stage, had its name written in the next stage. Merih Demiral, who opened the door to the next round by scoring two goals, received a 2-match ban due to his ‘Grey Wolf’ celebration. The decision made by UEFA was met with reactions nationwide. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bozdoğan, a faculty member at the Department of Turkish Language and Literature at Cumhuriyet University, stated, ‘I congratulate the Turkish national football team. I congratulate Merih twice for his gesture. I thank him for showing the symbol of Turkishness there.’
‘The Grey Wolf is our national symbol’
Expressing his condemnation of UEFA’s decision, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bozdoğan said, ‘I don’t know what Europe understands from the Grey Wolf, but we have been using the Grey Wolf as our national symbol for centuries. Europe confuses our nationalism with their nationalist league because they themselves take a nationalist stance. There is racism in their nationalist league; in our nationalism, there is both a sociological and cultural basis. If we could have explained this to Europe, Merih might not have received that punishment. I would like to express my regret towards both the Federation and the state officials. It seems that they could not adequately express our justification.’
‘Bears in Russia, roosters in France, Grey Wolf in Turkey’
Pointing out that the Grey Wolf has been a symbol used by Turks for centuries, Prof. Dr. Bozdoğan said, ‘The Grey Wolf mentioned in the ‘Epic of National Foundation’ and ‘Ergenekon Epic’ clearly shows that we have been using this symbol for centuries. The Grey Wolf on the flag of the Göktürk State is also the clearest evidence that this emblem, this symbol, has been a symbol we have been using for centuries. Just as the bear is a symbol for Russians, just as the rooster is a symbol for the French, our symbol is the Grey Wolf. The Grey Wolf is our national symbol that Turkish nationalists embrace with great zeal, but it represents the whole Turkish nation. Just as the bear is a symbol for Russians, just as the rooster is a symbol for the French, our symbol is the Grey Wolf. The Grey Wolf is our national symbol that we have been using for centuries. Therefore, it is out of the question to derive racism or chauvinism from this. I can say that I heartily applaud what Merih did and I am proud of it. In fact, this gesture was as pride-inducing for me as winning the match.’
‘The wolf symbolizes freedom’
Emphasizing that there is a meaning to choosing the wolf in the past, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bozdoğan said, ‘The wolf is a symbol of freedom, liberty, independence, unenslavability, and uncatchability all over the world. There are two animals that represent freedom in the world: one is the nightingale, and the other is the wolf. The nightingale cannot be enslaved either. If you put a nightingale in a cage, it will kill itself by hitting the cage. But the wolf never accepts captivity, nor does it ever give up. There are lions, tigers in circuses and zoos, but there are no wolves. Because the wolf has become a symbol of freedom to the extent that it cannot be enslaved in a cage. Since we Turks have been a nation fond of our freedom since we appeared on the stage of history, we have chosen the wolf as a symbol for ourselves. It is an emblem that we proudly use as a sign of the uncatchability of Turks. We need to show this to Europe.’