Wolf salute
Turkish nationalist hand gesture with far-right origins.
The wolf salute, also known as the grey wolf salute or grey wolf gesture, is a Turkish nationalist hand gesture that originated in the early 20th century. It was introduced by Alparslan Türkeş, leader of the Grey Wolves and the Nationalist Movement Party, who stated that the gesture represented Turkishness and Islam. The gesture later spread to other Turkish nationalists, including secularists, and is seen as controversial due to its far-right origins, leading to bans in several countries.
- Origin
- Early 20th century
- Introduced by
- Alparslan Türkeş
- Associated groups
- Grey Wolves, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP)
- Symbolism
- Turkishness and Islam
- Controversy
- Far-right origins, banned in several countries
- Identical gestures
- Silent fox signal (educational), shadow-puppet dog
Lore & Background
The gesture symbolises a wolf with closed mouth, with upright fingers representing ears and bunched fingers a closed mouth. While the grey wolf symbol is rooted in Turkic mythology, limited historical evidence supports early Göktürk use of a specific hand gesture. The modern gesture became prominent in the 20th century, popularized by the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) in Turkey. Political usage was popularized in the 1990s by Alparslan Türkeş, after which it became associated with extreme nationalism and neo-fascism.
Reader's Guide
The wolf salute has been used by various Turkish political figures, including Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who greeted supporters with it during the 2017 constitutional referendum and again prior to the 2023 presidential election. Meral Akşener, former MHP member and first leader of the Good Party, also frequently made the symbol. In July 2024, the Good Party began preparing a bill to officially recognise the wolf salute as the 'national symbol of the Turks' after UEFA suspended footballer Merih Demiral for making the gesture at Euro 2024. The gesture has also appeared in professional wrestling, formerly called 'The Turkish Wolf' and now known as 'Too Sweet'. Criticism has come from Islamists who view nationalism as un-Islamic, and from an AKP politician who described the symbol as 'against the spirit of Islam' because Gagauz Christians also use it. Legally, Austria banned the gesture in 2019, and in Germany its use in education as the silent fox signal has decreased due to the association.
Did You Know?
- The gesture is identical to the silent fox signal used in schools in parts of Europe and North America to calm classrooms.
- Recep Tayyip Erdoğan briefly made the gesture at a 2018 rally in Mersin before changing it to the four-fingered Rabia sign.
- In July 2024, the Good Party began preparing a bill to officially recognise the wolf salute as the 'national symbol of the Turks'.
- The gesture was formerly referred to as 'The Turkish Wolf' in American professional wrestling, now known as 'Too Sweet'.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Wolf salute?
The Wolf salute (also called the grey wolf salute or grey wolf gesture) is a Turkish nationalist hand gesture, not a mythological figure. It was introduced in the early 20th century by Alparslan Türkeş, who described it as a symbol of Turkishness and Islam.
What is the Wolf salute's role or symbolism?
Its creator framed the gesture as representing Turkish ethnic identity and Islamic faith. In practice it became the signature hand signal of the Grey Wolves organization and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), later adopted by some secular Turkish nationalists as well.
How did the Wolf salute originate?
Alparslan Türkeş, leader of the Grey Wolves and the MHP, introduced the gesture in the early 20th century as a unifying emblem for Turkish nationalist circles. It spread beyond his immediate movement and became widely recognized across Turkish nationalist communities.
Why is the Wolf salute controversial?
Because of its direct association with far-right and ultranationalist groups, the gesture has been banned in several countries. Critics view it as a symbol of exclusionary nationalism, while supporters see it as a cultural-identity gesture.
Is the Wolf salute part of traditional Turkic mythology?
No. It is a 20th-century political hand gesture with no roots in pre-modern Turkic myth, epic poetry, or religious tradition. It should not be confused with the wolf motifs that do appear in Turkic origin legends such as the Ashina wolf story.
More in Turkic mythology 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record