All-ASA TSA Letter @ UConn

Dear University of Connecticut,

We as the All-Armenian Student Association, a 501(c)(3) umbrella organization representing over forty Armenian Student Associations across the United States and globally, would like to draw your attention to the University of Connecticut Turkish Student Alliance’s use of the terrorist group Gray Wolves’ salute in recent club marketing, which could be found here: https://www.instagram.com/p/C_gwTXKPq7P/ 

The Gray Wolves are an ultranationalist, neo-fascist, far-right, extremist, Turkish political group who have been labeled “a terrorist organization” by the European Parliament, which also notes that the Grey Wolves are “especially threatening for people with a Kurdish, Armenian, or Greek background and anyone they consider an opponent.” Since the 1970s, the Grey Wolves have carried out a number of massacres and attempted assassinations against non-Turkish ethnic minorities, as well as leftist activists, in both Turkey and abroad.

Posted on their Instagram page @uconn.tusa on September 4, 2024, the Turkish Student Alliance’s reel depicts 21 students holding their hands in the Gray Wolves’ salute in the foreground of an army march tune. The Grey Wolves are banned in countries including France, while Austria has specifically banned this salute, so to actively promote association with this terrorist organization via its symbolism is highly detrimental to the Armenian, Greek, and Kurdish students on campus. 

The Turkish Student Alliance commented below its post that for “those offended by our OFFICIAL Turkish Salute. Our national animal is the WOLF and has been the national animal for decades thus making it our national salute as well.” However, no laws in Turkey have codified the “wolf salute” as official, nor would it justify its use, considering its more evident implications. In May 2024, Turkish footballer Meih Demiral held up the wolf salute in celebration, and the UEFA banned him from two European Championship matches in response. The wolf salute is a terrorist symbol and should be treated as such. 

We therefore ask that the University of Connecticut please mandate the Turkish Student Alliance remove its September 4 reel and refrain from promoting association with the Grey Wolves by holding its salute.

With additional inquiries, please contact All-ASA at webmaster@all-asa.org. We thank you for your attention and would appreciate you keeping us informed of your final decision. Please note, All-ASA will be going forward with a public social media campaign should it not be resolved.

Respectfully,

All-Armenian Students Association Executive Board