The Ülkücü Movement in Germany (The Ülkücü Movement, Part 3)

In our previous two articles, in which we examined their activities in Türkiye, we tried to shed light on the many unsolved incidents that the ülkücüs, or Grey Wolves as they are also called, led or played the leading role in, and on the chaotic and dark atmosphere created in the country as a result. Now we will look at how the Ülkücü movement is viewed in European countries and the US.

Far-right ideologies, seen as a greater security threat every day in developed countries, reject in conceptual terms the rules of the democratic system, the principle of equality, individual freedom and the enjoyment of equal rights by all political actors. For this reason they are generally defined as views that advocate an authoritarian system based on personal characteristics such as race, ethnic origin and religion and accept ‘violence’ as a tool for achieving political goals.

The ülkücüs’ activities in Europe and the US are essentially viewed as those of a far-right organisation of immigrant origin. The view is held that they use “violence” and “hate speech” as tools and are a potential threat to the security of the states concerned. From this perspective, their activities in European countries are kept under surveillance, banned or the subject of debate about banning.

But why?

Is the world jealous of them, or does it have concerns about them?

Let us look together. Germany first.

Banning the Ülkücü Movement Has Long Been Debated in Germany

In Germany, far-right extremism, nationalism, racism, discrimination and anti-Semitism, which have increased in recent years among groups of immigrant origin, continue to be debated on the country’s agenda.

Among these groups, the ülkücüs, with about 18,500 members, are described as one of the strongest far-right movements in Germany. According to the results of research by Prof. Dr. Kemal Bozay of the Cologne International University of Applied Sciences, Ülkücü ideology is “shaped on the basis of anti-Semitism, racism and hatred of minorities”, and it is stated to pose a danger to Jews, Kurds, Alevis, Christians and other minority groups and opponents.

Last year, a joint motion prepared by five parties in the German Bundestag accelerated the process of banning the Ülkücü movement nationwide. The text of the motion stated: “We condemn all world views based on the madness of race and world domination and opposed to human dignity and dialogue between peoples, and we take a resolute stand against them.”

The text also stressed: “Germany opposes and will oppose far-right movements with every means and all the determination of the rule of law and democracy.” The motion, which stated that Ülkücü ideology created a nationalist and racist ideology based on Pan-Turkism and Turanism, claimed that the Grey Wolves’ ideal was to establish an ethnically homogeneous great Turkish state under Turkish leadership stretching from the Balkans to China. The motion, drafted with broad consensus, stated that the ülkücüs often openly try to intimidate and threaten people they regard as political opponents, and it also included the phrase “The political philosophy of the Turkish Ülkücü Movement disregards human dignity.”

Following that motion, in a report submitted to the Bundestag last month by the Bundestag’s Research Services, the phrase “They want to pursue unconstitutional goals in a combative and aggressive manner” was used about the ülkücüs. In listing the reasons for banning an organisation, this expert report also referred to the clause in the relevant law: “The purpose or activities of an association seriously, gravely and permanently damage understanding among peoples.”

Investigation of Soldiers of Turkish Origin in the German Army for Ülkücü Links

Last July the German military intelligence service (MAD) launched an investigation into four German soldiers of Turkish origin serving in the German army on the grounds that they had links to the Ülkücü movement. It is known that, in the case brought onto the Bundestag’s agenda at the request of the German Left Party, the disciplinary investigation into at least one of the soldiers investigated has deepened, while for the others it was determined that they “had extremist views” and the investigation is continuing.

The details of the report also stated that the investigation would be extended to whether the case was linked to the Turkish intelligence agency MİT, and allegations that members of the Ülkücü organisation in Germany had received shooting training in some parts of the country were also included.

Execution Lists Targeting Turkish Dissidents Living in Europe

No judicial authority has taken any legal step or launched any examination into the allegations brought to light recently by Sedat Peker, which directly accuse the AKP government and Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu in particular. Nevertheless, it is no secret that certain work is being done behind closed doors, that some people are making reports that put the government in a difficult position, and that acts of intimidation, frightening or obstruction against journalists and intellectuals who strive to reveal the truth are being planned.

To the question of which actors those planning these attacks use or will use, Elise Massicard’s statement, referring to Ülkücü and AKP-linked paramilitary structures, sheds light: “When there is dirty work to be done in Europe or intimidation is needed, they come to the fore.”

First, in July 2021, journalist Erk Acarer was attacked at his home with a knife and fists; then in August 2021 national boxer Ünsal Arık became the target of an attack for the second time. In the same period, the “Execution Lists” published from a social media account called “Jitemkurt”, later closed, again turned attention in Europe, and especially in Germany, to the threat of Ülkücü-motivated assassinations and attacks.

On the subject, the Interior Ministry of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia drew attention to the fact that “opposition citizens of Turkish, Kurdish or Alevi origin are constantly faced with an abstract danger because of their views on the Turkish government and the activities of dissidents who have taken refuge in Germany” and that “hostility towards these people has recently increased further”. Stating in this context that threats were detected from social media accounts that appear to be predominantly Turkish nationalist, the Ministry also says that the first findings of ongoing investigations indicate that the perpetrators are outside Europe.

Left Party Bundestag member Ulla Jelpke, who closely follows the situation of dissidents of Turkish origin living in Germany, is also of the view that “the attack on Erk Acarer shows that the Erdoğan regime is a concrete threat in Germany too to everyone striving for the development of democracy in Türkiye”. The experienced politician, saying she is aware of the “Execution Lists” prepared by the Turkish government, which she describes as “allies made up of fascists and Islamists”, its partner and their paramilitary offshoots, stresses that she herself was once put on a list of “enemies of Türkiye” by the ülkücüs.

The record of the Ülkücü movement and the ülkücüs is not very bright in other European countries and the US either!..