Veteran striker Karim Benzema has filed a defamation complaint against French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin on Tuesday. The action comes after Darmanin alleged that the former Real Madrid star and current player of the Saudi Union has connections with the Muslim Brotherhood.
Darmanin criticized Benzema following a post shared by the former French international on the social media platform “X” (formerly Twitter), in mid-October last year, expressing support for the residents of Gaza.
The 2022 Ballon d’Or winner for the best player had conveyed, “All our prayers for the people of Gaza who fall once again as victims to this unjust bombing that spares neither women nor children.”
Benzema considered the statements of the French Interior Minister as undermining his reputation and honor (social media platforms).
“Benzema Has Ties with the Brotherhood”
The Interior Minister speculated that Benzema’s stance could be interpreted as having ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. On the “C News” channel, stirring a storm on social media, Darmanin stated, “As we all know, Karim Benzema has a relation, which is infamously known, with the Muslim Brotherhood.”
In the complaint lodged by lawyer Hugo Vejey on behalf of Benzema, the Union striker believes that these statements “undermine” his honor and reputation.
Benzema emphasizes, “I had no connection whatsoever with the Muslim Brotherhood, nor am I aware of any individual claiming to be a member of it,” further adding, “I realize to what extent I am being used, because of my reputation, in political games, which is a massive scandal considering that the dramatic events since October 7th deserve something completely different from this kind of statement.”
Back in October, Darmanin remarked that he had “nothing against” Benzema but was “astonished” that the football player did not put out any supportive comment for the Israelis killed in a Hamas attack, or for the French language teacher fatally stabbed by one of his Muslim students.
Darmanin also touched upon Benzema’s refusal to perform the French national anthem while playing with the French team and his “call to Islam” on social media platforms.
The complaint against the Minister of the Interior has been submitted to the Court of Justice, the sole French court authorized to try members of the government for crimes committed in the course of their duties.
