The city of Bremen in northern Germany has implemented a ban on the “silent fox” hand gesture commonly used in classrooms to signal silence. This gesture, where the hand resembles a fox with upright ears and a closed mouth, has been deemed too similar to the “wolf salute” associated with far-right extremism in Turkey.
The decision to ban the gesture comes after controversy surrounding Turkish football player Merih Demiral, who used a similar gesture, the “wolf salute,” during a match, leading to diplomatic tensions and UEFA issuing him a ban.
Authorities in Bremen expressed concern that the “silent fox” gesture could be mistaken for the extremist symbol, despite it being a widely used teaching tool to quieten children in classrooms. The gesture is recognized globally under various names like the whispering fox or the quiet coyote in the US, but in Germany, it has now been deemed politically sensitive.
Patricia Brandt from Bremen’s education authority noted that besides political concerns, there was also growing sentiment among educators that the gesture was outdated and too authoritarian in its approach. Some schools have already started exploring alternative methods such as gongs or visual symbols to encourage quietness among students.
The broader debate in Germany reflects a balancing act between maintaining educational practices and sensitivity to political symbols in a multicultural society, particularly concerning issues related to ethnic minorities and extremism.
