Ex-national player Mesut Özil can be seen on social media with a tattoo on his chest showing the symbol of the right-wing group “Grey Wolves”.
A photo of Mesut Özil on social media triggered a wave of outrage. The former German national soccer player presents his abdominal muscles on the Instagram account of his fitness trainer Alper Aksac with them. An apparent tattoo on Özil’s chest is also visible in the picture. A howling wolf is emblazoned there, next to it are three crescents. The symbol is one of the identifying marks of the Turkish, right-wing extremist “Ülkücü” movement.
According to the German Office for the Protection of the Constitution, their ideology is characterized by exaggerated nationalism, racism and anti-Semitism. The supporters known as the “Grey Wolves” dream of a Turkish empire called “Turan” and see Turkishness as superior. They also devalued other groups, especially Armenians, Kurds, Greeks and Jews. According to the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the movement has around 11,000 followers in Germany.
Violent criticism of Mesut Özil’s tattoo
The fact that Özil apparently tattooed such a symbol on his chest caused a wave of outrage on social media. Journalist Tobias Huch wrote: “Erdogan friend and ex-national player Mesut Özil proudly shows his Nazi tattoo of the fascist Gray Wolves (flag with three crescents and a wolf). It is one of the worst symbols of hate and stands for hatred and crimes against Alevis, Kurds, Jews and Christians.”
“Ozil should be denied all prizes and awards from the DFB or the Federal Republic,” commented the chairman of the Junge Union, Johanns Winkel on Twitter. Former Berlin MP Hakan Tas wrote about Özil’s pictures: “It was actually known in general! But now it’s official with the tattoo. Özil supports the Gray Wolves.”
Here you can see the original pictures on the Instagram account of fitness trainer Alper Aksac. Zooming into the picture you can clearly see the howling wolf and the three crescents:
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