Tensions between Turkey and France, stoked by the French government’s plans to tackle “Islamist separatism,” are spilling over to Austria and Germany as Turkish Islamist and nationalist groups in Europe, mobilized by Ankara, are coming under tighter scrutiny.

As France reeled from a string of terrorist attacks in late October, Turks in France staged nationalist demonstrations to the backdrop of clashes between Azerbaijan, a close ally of Turkey, and Armenia. Tensions flared after several Turks were injured in an altercation with protesters from France’s Armenian community near Vienne. A Turkish demonstration in Lyon’s district of Decines — known as “Little Armenia” — further alarmed the government as participants hurled insults and threats against Armenians.

On Nov. 4, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin announced a ban on the Gray Wolves movement, which he said had been involved in acts of aggression against Kurds and Armenians, including the defacing of two sites dedicated to the Armenian genocide memorial in Decines, with graffiti reading “Gray Wolves” and “RTE” — the initials of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Ankara responded by saying that “there is no such movement called Gray Wolves" and vowed to further respond “in the strongest way.”

Indeed, there is no organization officially registered as the Gray Wolves, which has led many to play down the French ban as posturing. This, however, does not preclude judicial action against the Gray Wolves, based on symbols and signs. Darmanin conceded that the Gray Wolves were not a formal association but insisted they formed groups that meet regularly, are connected to each other and act as an organized body.