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Rights Groups Decry Anti-Kurdish Abuse of Germany’s Deniz Undav After Istanbul Match

Kurdish rights groups urge clubs and federations to publicly denounce the abuse.

Overview

  • The harassment reached a new high after VfB Stuttgart’s 1-0 Europa League loss to Fenerbahçe in Istanbul, according to IAKR and ZMRK.
  • A brief on-pitch confrontation with Fenerbahçe’s İsmail Yüksek was cited as a trigger for renewed online campaigns targeting the striker.
  • Videos and posts document racist chants in the stadium and online insults that labeled Undav a “traitor” and “terrorist.”
  • Observers highlighted frequent use of the wolf emoji associated with the far-right Grey Wolves in hostile comments.
  • Months of targeting have centered on Undav’s Kurdish‑Yazidi identity and his choice to play for Germany, with rights groups pressing sports bodies to act.