An Austrian member of a pro-ISIS Turkish Muslim nationalist organisation has been photographed making an Islamic salute on a concentration camp monument. Abdurrahman Alpaslan was snapped standing on a monument to those who died at the Mauthausen concentration camp making the two-fingered salute, sometimes referred to as the Wolf Salute.
It is used by members of the Nationalist Movement Party of Turkey (MHP) in which the little finger symbolizes Turkey, while the index finger is Islam and the space between is the world, implying that Turkish Islamists will one day control the world.
Mauthausen was liberated from the Nazis on 5 May 1945, which is marked by a granite block placed at the site. The monument has special significance to the survivors as well as the relatives of those who died, symbolising the end to their torment.
There has therefore been widespread outrage at the use by the member of the Linz-based Turkish Muslim nationalist group as shown in the picture.
Local Greens spokesman Sophia Hochedlinger said that Abdurrahman, who was pictured standing on the stone, was the leader of the Linz-based Grey Wolves association Avrasya.
Avrasya, according to Austrian anti-fascist organisations, is simply a cover organisation for the Grey Wolves ultra-nationalists in Turkey that are constantly making propaganda against Jews, Kurds and Armenians, as well as left-wing supervisors of any sort and are also known as ISIS sympathizers.
Underneath the picture was posted the message: “Abdurrahman A., My brother, in Hitler’s concentration camp. Forget America and Russia and China. Everything for Turkey.”
She said the image was absolutely shocking, showing a huge lack of respect for Holocaust victims.
She said that the local socialists in Linz had refused to accept that “Avrasya” was a fascist organisation, saying that it was simply an association of migrants working together to help each other.
She said: “I have to ask myself what else needs to happen before (local mayor) Klaus Luger changes his mind?”
They want sponsorship from the local council to stop, and a ban on allowing them to use local venues for their meetings.