Probe launched into racist act against Jewish students at football match

By Zeynep Rakipoglu

ISTANBUL (AA) – A Turkish educational body on Friday said it has launched an investigation into a racist act by a high school student during a football game with a Jewish school.

The Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education is conducting a probe into a racist act by a student of the Uskudar American Academy, a private high school in Istanbul, during a match with Ulus Jewish Schools.

Reports on social media said the student celebrated with a Nazi salute after his team scored in the game in Istanbul on Tuesday.

The act has drawn widespread condemnation from Turkish social media users, including the Turkish Jewish Community.

“It is being followed with sensitivity by both our school administration and the presidency of the Turkish Jewish Community, and necessary steps are being taken,” the Turkish Jewish Community said in response to a tweet about the incident.

“Our school administration and the Turkish Jewish Community presidency are following the issue seriously with the Uskudar American community and its boards of directors. We have full confidence that they will show the necessary sensitivity and we will continue to share the developments,” it said.

On Wednesday, the Uskudar American Academy expressed regret over the incident.

“As Uskudar American Academy, which has raised generations since 1876, we are deeply saddened by the wrong gesture made by one of our players in a football match with Ulus Jewish Schools,” the school said in a statement shared on Instagram.

“We would like to strongly emphasize that we stand against all kinds of discrimination as part of our institutional and educational philosophy,” it added.