Karim Benzema files complaint over comments on Muslim Brotherhood links

The former 2022 Ballon d’Or was targeted by Gérald Darmanin after publishing in mid-October on in retaliation for the bloody Hamas attack of October 7.

The Minister of the Interior had argued that this position could be explained by Karim Benzema’s links with the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist organization born in Egypt, where it is considered “terrorist”.

“Karim Benzema is linked, we all know, notoriously, with the Muslim Brotherhood, we are attacking a hydra, which is the Muslim Brotherhood because they give an atmosphere of jihadism,” he said on the channel CNews on October 16, triggering a storm on social networks.

Far-right and right-wing politicians also got involved in the controversy, such as Eric Zemmour or Nadine Morano.

According to Karim Benzema’s complaint, revealed by RTL and consulted by AFP, these accusations are “inexact”, “more likely false, but in any case made on purpose” and are “attacking” his honor and his reputation.

It was filed by Me Hugues Vigier before the Court of Justice of the Republic (CJR), the only court authorized to prosecute and judge members of the government for offenses committed in the exercise of their functions.

In his complaint, the 36-year-old player, who today plays for the Saudi club Al-Ittihad and displays his Muslim faith, reaffirms “never having had the slightest link with the Muslim Brotherhood organization nor (its) acquaintance with someone who would claim it”.

“Instrumentalized”

“I realize to what extent I am, because of my notoriety, being used in political games that are all the more scandalous since the dramatic events since October 7 deserve anything other than this type of declaration,” he adds, believing that his position went “against the grain of that of the vast majority of French ‘ruling classes'”.

Karim Benzema believes that “many people” who “reproached him for the unbalanced nature of (his) communication” expressed comments which were “not more” balanced, “since they never mentioned the Gazans”.

When requested, the entourage of the Minister of the Interior has not responded for the time being.

Mr. Darmanin criticized the former international (97 selections) for “tweeting selectively” and affirmed that he would withdraw his comments if Benzema “tweeted” to “also cry” the assassination of the French teacher from Arras, Dominique Bernard, by a radicalized young person.

To support his remarks, the Minister of the Interior relied, according to declarations from his entourage to AFP in October, on “a slow drift in Karim Benzema’s positions towards a hard, rigorous Islam, characteristic of the +Brotherhood+ ideology”, with in particular “proselytism on social networks around Muslim worship, such as fasting, prayer, pilgrimage to Mecca”.

Those around him also recalled his refusal to sing the national anthem.

On October 25, Gérald Darmanin maintained his controversial remarks, believing that “it hides something” when a footballer posts a political opinion “selectively”.

Karim Benzema is considered one of the best strikers of his generation but has had a checkered history with the Blues.

Complaints addressed to the CJR are filtered by a complaints commission, which can classify them or transmit them to an investigating commission. At the end of the investigation, this commission decides to dismiss the case or refer it to trial.

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2024-01-17 07:10:00
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