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Rabat – Karim Benzema’s lawyer Hugues Vigier has unequivocally denied recent accusations by the French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin that the French-Algerian footballer is linked to the Muslim Brotherhood.
Vigier expressed Benzema’s intention to file an official complaint against Darmanin for his accusations, which the lawyer said were “false.” He added, “Karim Benzema has never had the slightest relationship with this organization [the Muslim Brotherhood].”
Darmanin made the claims in a television interview with CNews, saying that Benzema has “notorious links with the Muslim Brotherhood.” The accusations came in light of the player’s support of Palestine amid Israel’s aggression on Gaza.
“All our prayers for the inhabitants of Gaza who are once again victims of these unjust bombings that do not spare women and children,” the former Real Madrid star said on social media.
In a statement, Vigier said that Benzema’s social media post was an expression of “natural compassion” for the dire situation in Gaza, which has been widely decried as involving “war crimes.”
However, Vigier said that Benzema’s empathetic message about the situation in Gaza “does not detract from the horror of the terrorist acts of October 7, something not open to discussion.”
Vigier strongly criticized what he characterized as an “intolerable exploitation of Karim Benzema and the ‘symbolic figure’ that we like to make him.”
Following Darmanin’s accusations, French senator Valerie Boyer called for the revocation of Benzema’s French citizenship and the Ballon d’Or he won a year ago should the allegations prove true.
The French-Algerian player is not the only footballer who has faced criticism and harassment for expressing support for Palestine.
On Wednesday, French club Nice announced suspending Algerian player Youcef Atal for voicing his support for Palestine.
