Why is Europe banning ultra-nationalist associations?

Following Austria and France, Germany yesterday took an important step towards banning the ultra-nationalist organisations (Ülkü Ocakları) that serve as the MHP’s tentacle in Europe. In debates held in the Federal Parliament, all parties called for the banning of “Grey Wolf and ultra-nationalist” associations. The bill submitted by four parties was adopted. This step leaves the ball in the government’s court. Or that of the Federal Interior Ministry.

So, the German police may stage sudden night raids on associations it has marked out as being “Grey Wolf” and seize tools of crime. Say what you will, steps towards the banning in Europe of the direct tentacles of a party that is represented in parliament in Turkey or is even a government partner is not an ordinary development.

One aspect of this development contains a message for Erdoğan. For example, Bild newspaper ran the headline a few days ago, “Parliament adopts ban on Erdoğan friends” By friendship, the reference is to the MHP.

Given that associations run by his “friends” have been banned, the turn may come of such associations as the UID and DİTİB that are directly run by Erdoğan. The banning of the Grey Wolf associations may thus appear to have just been the start.

Another aspect comes in the form of the potential threat these associations have turned into inside Europe. We have seen, last summer in Vienna and a short time ago in Paris, that these groups can stage attacks on Turkish-origin opposition circles. Attacks with clubs were staged on Kurds and Turkish-origin socialists in Vienna, and on Armenians in Paris.

The policy of oppression the regime in Turkey is pursuing against opponents has been carried into Europe by means of these associations. Many threat-laden comments have been made and messages sent especially to Turkish-origin intellectuals, politicians and academics. This is why Federal Parliament member Turkish-origin politicians Sevim Dağdelen and Cem Özdemir have long been under police protection.

The adoption of the ban is an important if late step to stem the transporting of the policies of oppression and duress in Turkey into Germany. However, it is also self-evident that the ban on its own will not deliver a result. What is important is to find the answer to the question of why third and fourth-generation youths who are German-born and bred and even struggle to speak Turkish become followers of these organizations.

Conversely, spokespersons of the governing parties addressing parliament the day before yesterday did not appear similarly inclined towards German far-rightists as they wished for Turkish far-right organizations to be banned. It is known in particular that the Christian Democrats are not too keen on banning the racist NPD.

Given that racism is not a situation peculiar to just one nation, banning racist organizations of all nations should be Germany’s supreme duty. Moreover, it would be far more appropriate to set out by banning German racist organizations and parties. As this has not been done, Turkish nationalists will claim victimhood over the decision and resort to means for gaining further strength.

With it known for years what they were, the banning of the Grey Wolves is surely not limited just to the reasons I have set out above. The fundamental reason can be said to be the insistence of these groups, defying the realities of immigration and refusing to be part of Germany, on acting as a satellite under the Turkish state’s remote control.

Even though some sixty years have passed since their immigration from Turkey, these groups insist on living in parallel ghettoes, refusing to live together with the German people. On planning to pressurize European countries on any issue, the Turkish state first mobilizes these strata. Sometimes this may take the form of demonstrations and marches and sometimes gathering intelligence.

It has reached the stage at which these strata, who in legal terms are citizens of the countries they live in and have attained important positions but act as functionaries of the Turkish state in political terms, are viewed as being a “potential threat.”

Maybe the ban that has been adopted will not see existing Grey Wolves associations being raided and banned. However, more to the point, denying entry to the state mechanism of those with Grey Wolf connections has essentially been brought within a legal framework. As such, those with connections to Turkish nationalist circles may not easily be able to gain admission to employment or be assigned to certain posts. A similar step may be taken with nationalist tendencies from other countries.

In short, Germany must ban, not just foreign fascist organizations, but all racist-fascist organizations and propaganda. This is also in the interest of Turkish-origin workers and wage earners. This is the means for preventing racist murders, too.

It is in the interests of Turkish-origin youths and wage earners who have immigrated from Turkey to unite with German wage earners with whom they share the same fate and struggle against discrimination and injustice of all kinds. Acting as the Turkish state’s column in Germany or privates under the command of parties in Turkey does more harm than good. So, the decision parliament has taken on the Grey Wolves should be seen as a chance to struggle in unity against all manner of reaction in Germany.

(Translated by Tim DRAYTON)