They have no official existence in France.
Turkish nationalists claimed as "Gray Wolves" were noted in Décines (Rhône) and Vienne (Isère) on Wednesday evening, then in Dijon (Côte-d'Or) on Thursday, during parades with the appearance of marked punitive expedition, in particular, by threatening cries.
Born at the end of the 1960s in Turkey, this radical, nationalist and xenophobic far-right movement resurfaced in reaction to the movement in support of Armenia, in conflict with Azerbaijan.
But his spectacular actions conceal a limited influence for the moment.
“The Gray Wolves represent networks, which exist and which should not be underestimated, but which are infinitely in the minority, analyzes Didier Billion, specialist in Turkey and deputy director of the Institute for International and Strategic Relations (IRIS).
This is true in France as in Turkey.
"
VIDEO. "Where are the Armenians": Turks on a punitive expedition to Décines
In the Turkish demonstrations, it happens to come across these radical militants who wear the sign of the wolf - thumb, middle finger and little finger together - as a rallying point.
On social networks too, a wolf emoticon is usually associated with their presentation.
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They are mainly sympathizers without any real link, far from the paramilitary organization which made the heyday of the movement.
In the 1970s, the “Gray Wolves”, favored by the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) and linked to the mafia, notably carried out a series of political assassinations.
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Their fierce opposition to communism has, over time, evolved into a neofascist and Pan-Turkist ideology, which advocates the union of the Turkic peoples.
In recent years, they were seen as rather close to the ruling power and the AKP, the neoconservative party of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
To the point that some suspect them of being linked to Turkish intelligence services.
"The Gray Wolves embody an ideological current and a sensitivity shared by Turks and Franco-Turks," notes Didier Billion.
The current period, during which the conservative community is white-hot by Erdogan's statements, no doubt allows them to have a certain aura.
Even if they are very far from having the same mobilization capacity as before.
"
For now, their actions in France have led in their wake a few dozen or even hundreds of people.
And very few identified figures manage to emerge from the movement.
This may be the case with Ahmet Cetin, just followed by a few thousand people on social networks.
"Let the government give me a weapon"
Based in Bourg-en-Bresse (Ain), this 23-year-old Franco-Turk, married and father of a child, readily positions himself as a leader.
"Let the [Turkish] government give me a gun and 2,000 euros and I will do what needs to be done anywhere in France," he boasted in a video posted this summer.
These remarks have earned him, since, to appear before the criminal court for "incitement to hatred".
The public prosecutor requested a suspended sentence of six months in prison, for a deliberation planned in early November.
Still, the audience of the young man is not disproportionate: the video in question had been viewed nearly 13,000 times before being deleted.
Far, therefore, from the vertiginous figures that the viral contents sometimes cause.
A sign, among others, of the currently restricted circle of sympathizers of the "Gray Wolves" in France.
