In my article about the last World Cup, I stated that the ugliest aspect of the tournament was racism.
Unfortunately, this time, the racism at the World Cup was directed at players of Turkish descent living abroad. Mesut Özil from Germany and Jimmy Durmaz from Sweden both suffered their share of racism.
First, let’s examine the unfair accusations Mesut Özil has faced. As you know, Mesut Özil has been one of Germany’s most important players for years, playing defensively for the team, and even putting his Number 10, one of its most strategic numbers, on the line. There was a fierce battle between the German and Turkish soccer federations over Mesut’s performance. Both countries wanted him to wear their national jerseys. Germany claimed that Mesut was born and raised in Germany, while Türkiye, emphasizing his Turkish descent and the fact that a significant portion of his relatives still live in Türkiye, made a concerted effort to bring him into the national team. Ultimately, Mesut, a player of Turkish origin, chose Germany, bucking the general trend. In August 2009, Germany faced Azerbaijan 2-0 away in a 2010 World Cup qualifying game, winning both the game and Mesut Özil’s victory.
Following this, Mesut Özil became engraved in minds as the team’s maestro and one of the most important players who led and guided the German national team. His assists and goals made incredible contributions to German soccer. Here’s a photo of Mesut making one of his famous passes:
Germany’s National Team Choice
Let’s look at the news report below, which includes Mesut’s post-game statement:
20-year-old Mesut Özil expressed his joy at completing the final formality of playing in an official game. “I wanted to play for Germany from the very beginning. Wearing the Turkish national team jersey was never on the agenda. I’m very proud to be able to play for Germany,” he said.
Mesut Özil voluntarily renounced his Turkish citizenship in 2007 due to the ‘optional obligation’ in Germany’s current Citizenship Law. The Citizenship Law is based on the principle of ‘single citizenship’ and, with some exceptions, does not allow dual citizenship. Foreign nationals born in Germany are forced to choose between ages 18 – 21 to choose their citizenship.
Following this, Mesut never took off his Germany jersey. He consistently stood out as Germany’s most technically advanced and star player. In fact, as one of the world’s most skilled assisters and, of course, goal scorers, Mesut’s journey extended to world giants like Real Madrid and Arsenal. Germany, having achieved a remarkable generation, experienced one of the most successful periods in its history with Mesut and his teammates. Germany, which has targeted top positions in every tournament it has participated in and was considered one of the favorites, crowned its successful run by winning the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Prejudiced and inconsistent accusations
Unfortunately, Mesut Özil, the apple of Germany’s eye, was targeted in the very first game of this tournament. Mesut was made the scapegoat after Germany’s generally poor performance in the 1-0 defeat to Mexico. Yet, the entire team was generally poor.
Let’s listen to another news report about Özil, who has also been targeted by the country’s racist party, the AFD:
Mesut Özil, a soccer player of Turkish descent, has been the latest to be affected by the recent rise in racist rhetoric in Germany. Having previously made racist remarks about Jerome Boateng, a player of African descent who plays for the German national team, the AFD party has now targeted Mesut Özil.
Following AFD Deputy Chairman Alexander Gauland’s statement, “No one wants to be neighbors with Boateng,” the party’s Chairman, Frauke Petry, has now made racist remarks about Mesut Özil.
Speaking to the German newspaper, Die Welt am Sonntag, Petry emphasized that Mesut Özil doesn’t sing the national anthem at national team games. Referring to the star soccer player’s Umrah pilgrimage, Petry said:
“I don’t think Mesut Özil lives by Sharia law. We see that the women he appears with in public don’t wear headscarves. It’s a shame that Mesut Özil, a role model for young people and children, doesn’t sing the national anthem with his teammates. He’s showing off his Umrah pilgrimage to the world. We should ask Özil: will he make a political statement about his Umrah pilgrimage?”
Let me answer immediately: Of course not. Mesut’s faith and lifestyle are solely his own business. Furthermore, the most important reason for Germany’s recent surge in soccer is its integration of immigrants into the soccer system and the production of world-class players from immigrants in Germany. I’d like to remind AFD party members of this. In other words, you owe your recent international soccer successes to players whose families immigrated to Germany. France is a prime example of this. Look at the French national team. You’ll find immigrant soccer players of all colors and races. France, having won the World Cup in 1998 with a similar format, achieved the same success at the 2018 World Cup.
Here are France’s soccer players of all colors and races celebrating the World Championship with their coach Deschamps.
Mesut’s social media statement
The worst criticism was the Germans spewing hatred by showing a photo of Mesut with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Whether you like him or not, I don’t understand the vilification of Mesut over a president who received over 50% of the Turkish vote.
On the one hand, there’s racist rhetoric about his Turkish origins, and on the other, he’s being politically vilified for a photo. In short, there’s a whole series of wrongs made. As a result of all this criticism, manager Joachim Löw benched Mesut for the next game against Sweden. This was a first for Mesut. Ultimately, Germany didn’t advance from the group stage, but this wasn’t the fault of Mesut, but of the entire German team, which performed significantly below its previous level. After all this chaos and ugliness, Mesut Özil responded to these racist remarks for the first time today. Özil posted an English message on his Facebook account, saying:
Mesut’s social media message
In summary: “I’ve had the opportunity and time to reflect on the events of recent months in recent weeks. I want to share my thoughts and feelings about these events. I grew up in Germany, but my family’s roots are in Türkiye. I have two hearts, one German and one Turkish. As a child, my mother always taught me to respect the country of my roots and never forget where I came from. These are values I hold dear to my heart to this day.
In May, I met President Erdoğan at a reception in London. I first had the opportunity to meet President Erdoğan in 2010, when he watched the Germany-Türkiye game with Chancellor Merkel. Since then, our paths have crossed in one way or another. I’m aware that the photo of me together caused a stir in the German media. Although some accused me of lying and being disingenuous, this photo was not taken for political purposes. As I said, my mother always advised me not to forget my roots, my family traditions, and my ancestors.”
A photo of Mesut with other Turkish soccer players playing in England and the President. From left to right: İlkay Gündoğan (Manchester City), Mesut Özil (Arsenal), President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Cenk Tosun (Everton).
I wish Mesut a speedy recovery and want to tell him this: “You are a decent man and hold a very important place in German-Turkish relations. Don’t change your line, Mesut. Both countries need a role model like you. You are important for Germany to explain to the 3.5 million Turks living in Germany how integration should be, and for Türkiye to show the potential of its homegrown athletes. And of course, you are one of the symbolic figures important for the relationship between the two countries.
While I was writing these lines, Mesut released another statement, regrettably announcing his retirement from the German National Team. The Guardian article includes the following lines from Mesut Özil’s statement: “For me, taking a photo with the President had nothing to do with politics or elections. It was an act of respect for the highest-ranking official in my family’s country. I am a soccer player, not a politician. Our meeting does not mean that I condone his (President Erdoğan’s) policies.” “After the treatment I’ve received from both the German Soccer Association and some other circles, I no longer want to wear the German national team jersey. I feel like a persona non grata.”
He also said: “When I win, I’m German; when I lose, I’m an immigrant!”
It’s a shame. Mesut’s departure was a loss for both Germany and Türkiye. You were treated seriously unfairly, Mesut. I wish you success in your future career.
Jimmy Durmaz and meaningful support
Let’s talk about the incident in Sweden. In Sweden’s game against Germany, Jimmy Durmaz, who came on as a substitute, brought down the German player near the penalty area in the final minutes. Toni Kroos took advantage of the situation and converted a free kick, causing chaos. Jimmy Durmaz was subjected to a vicious and racist tirade by a group of Swedes. He even received death threats. This situation is completely unacceptable.
Thankfully, the Swedes stood firmly behind Jimmy Durmaz. Jimmy Durmaz, a native of Syriac descent and Swedish by birth, received a great deal of support from both within Sweden and abroad. Government officials in Sweden also contacted him. A large demonstration of support was held in Sweden. Turkish Ambassador Emre Yunt was also present. Many people attended the demonstration. We have video of this demonstration, and I would like to share the pictures again:
http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/sporarena/galeri-jimmy-durmaza-buyuk-halk-destegi-40881886#page-6
Swedish police showed their support. Sweden’s sports minister (Annika Strandhall) wore Jimmy’s jersey and gave a speech in the Swedish parliament wearing it. Most importantly, Jimmy’s teammates showed great support. Jimmy posted the video below, and the entire team chanted “F.ck Racism” (a bit of a swear word, but the literal translation is “F.ck Racism”):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f55dcJZDhAc
Among the messages sent to Jimmy here, I came across the message “Bloody Darkie” (literally “bloody, bloody, or damn dark or black person”).
Jimmy Durmaz on the Swedish National Team
The Scientific Meaninglessness of Racial Superiority
I have a few words for the Swedish skullduggery who posted this message, or for those who think like him, who claim the white race is superior (like the Ku Klux Klan or KKK).
Leave everything aside, let’s approach the issue from a scientific perspective: The most important reason why humans are the most dominant and powerful species on earth is their rapid adaptation to their environment and their flexibility. Otherwise, like the dinosaurs, who were much stronger than us, Humanity could easily have vanished from the face of the earth. However, when we look at human history, we see that, regardless of the circumstances, the human race, which won the battle for survival and became more intelligent with each passing generation, migrated from their initial locations to different places over time, changing their appearance according to climatic conditions. For example, people in the north, due to less sun exposure, had lighter skin, changed eye color, and became taller and larger. In Africa and other various places where the sun’s influence was felt most strongly, the human race changed again, with darker skin, enlarged nostrils, and bodies shaped according to the humidity or dryness of their location. It’s that simple. So, no one on this earth should tell anyone else nonsense like they’re smarter, a superior race, or a holy nation chosen by God. Enough! We live in the 21st century, a time when humanity is perhaps at its smartest and experiencing the most rapid change in its millions of years of history. We’re still sick and tired of hearing this nonsense. Everyone, come to your senses. For those with average or below average IQs who can’t fully grasp what I’m saying scientifically, I’d like to share the following image of Trump, which is generally supported by white supremacists:
In the image above, you can see three versions of Trump. On the far left is Trump himself; in the middle, we see how his descendants might have changed generations later if Trump had lived in Latin America; and on the right, we see how his personality might have evolved if Trump had lived in Africa. Of course, I don’t know how many generations it would take for such a genetic change to occur; I leave that to the experts. However, if Trump’s descendants lived elsewhere, their skin would begin to change in this way even if they continued to marry people of their own race.
Conversely, if you put an African in a Scandinavian country, they could similarly transform into a white-skinned family after many generations. Of course, I’d also like to point out the constant mixing of people of different races. When you look at countries like Brazil, you clearly see how mulattoes can be. Incidentally, being a mulatto isn’t a bad thing either. On the contrary, if a child inherits the strengths of both parents, a positive outcome can emerge.
Speaking of Trump, I’d like to say that he needs to reconsider his harsh immigration policies. Building walls or separating poor children from their families won’t do the trick. Anti-immigrants will continue to deceive themselves with these temporary solutions that violate human rights. Fiasco after fiasco will continue to emerge.
If politicians or state leaders want to stop immigration to their own countries, they should strive to increase the level of education and welfare in the regions they receive immigration from. When do people stop feeling the need to migrate? When they live happily where they are. It’s that simple.
The Other Side of Racism
In Türkiye, we have many citizens of diverse origins. My father’s side is from Gaziantep, meaning southerners, and my mother’s side is from Trabzon, meaning northerners. I, too, am considered mixed race in my own country. I’ve always been proud of this. I thank my parents for the strengths in my genetic makeup.
There’s another side to this racism. Just as sick individuals tend to attack those who are different from themselves or darker, there are also individuals who are ashamed of their own skin color and appearance and even try to change it.
Michael Jackson is the clearest example I can give of this. Everyone knows how Michael Jackson’s skin lightened over the years due to the drugs he used. I’ll share another example from my own experience.
I lived in a dormitory during my first year at McGill University in Canada. I had two roommates: Brad, from Saskatchewan, and Amit, from Switzerland, of Indian descent. Both were good guys. Brad was both level-headed and intelligent. He had a 4 out of 4 GPA in a challenging field like engineering. He was on the rowing team. We had some great memories together.
On the other hand, Amit was a good person, and his grades weren’t bad. I generally got along with him. The only thing I found bothering me about Amit was that he used the bathroom at least once or twice a day and spent over an hour in the shower each time. Don’t get me wrong, cleanliness is very important, of course. However, Amit always tried to whiten himself in the bathroom with his own special soap. I discussed this with him several times. He just kept doing what he wanted. I couldn’t understand why he was so obsessed with this.
A striking example of diversity: India
I’ve previously mentioned that Humanity changes in appearance based on exposure to sunlight and climate conditions; skin darkens or lightens. India, where Amit is from, is a striking example of this. Those familiar with India know that the skin tones darken in the southern states; there are even Indians with darker skin than an African. Similarly, as you move north, skin tones lighten, and in the northernmost states, there are Indians with white skin. This variation within a single country perfectly sums up the situation. To be exposed to the sun or not is also a matter of choice. These preferences can vary periodically and depending on location. For example, in Europe, staying fair was once the preferred color, but now Westerners may prefer to sunbathe and tan all day at the beach. Similarly, in Asia, they generally avoid sun exposure. Some Far Easterners even use umbrellas to shade themselves.
Finally, I want to say that it doesn’t matter whether they have fair or dark skin; people are people. Physical characteristics aren’t what matter. What matters is whether a person has a good heart, is well-intentioned, hardworking, and productive. The rest is meaningless.
The difference isn’t in the blood, but in the goodness of the heart.
It’s absurd to categorize people based on factors like their country, faith, or language. In my opinion, there are two types of people: good people and bad people. Of course, we can’t say that everyone is 100% good or 100% bad. But those whose goodness prevails, those who know the bad but insist on the good, are good people. No matter where you go in the world, no matter what race you interact with, there are good and bad people. Those who exaggerate the views of those within their own country or race are deceiving themselves and those around them.
My inner circle and I strive to fulfill the requirements of good humanity. What we’ve done at TİDER is a striking example of this. We’ve accomplished great things at TİDER so far, and we will continue to do so. My next article will be about TİDER.
Long live good and productive people!
Here are the different faces of the World Cup. This picture once again reveals what a beautiful picture the fans from so many different countries create. Let’s not forget, diversity is richness. Let’s embrace our differences.
Tag: memoir
