Karim Benzema lodged a defamation complaint against French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin.
Last year, Darmanin accused the former Real Madrid player of having “notorious” connections with the Muslim Brotherhood. This criticism followed Benzema’s October post on X (formerly Twitter) expressing support for Gaza residents and condemning what he claimed were “unjust bombardments” by Israel in response to the October 7 Hamas attack. Darmanin responded to Benzema’s post by claiming that the player has a well-known association with the Muslim Brotherhood, a Sunni Muslim Islamist group originating from Egypt.
In the complaint filed by his lawyer Hugues Vigier, and reviewed by AFP, Benzema contends that these statements “damage” his honor and reputation. The footballer, who is a Muslim and currently plays for Saudi club Al-Ittihad, asserts in his complaint that he has “never had any connection with the Muslim Brotherhood organization, nor, to the best of his knowledge, with anyone purporting to be a member of it.” He said, “I’m aware that my fame is being exploited in political maneuvers, especially considering the significant events since October 7. This type of statement is scandalous and inappropriate for the gravity of the situation.
Back in October, I mentioned having no issue with Benzema but found it surprising that he hadn’t shown support for the Israelis killed in the Hamas attack or the French teacher stabbed by an Islamist former pupil. I publicly urged him to tweet for the deceased teacher, a victim of Islamist terrorism, during my visit to Abu Dhabi. I also brought up his refusal to sing the national anthem for France and his active promotion on social networks. The complaint has been filed with the Cour de justice, the sole French court with the authority to prosecute government members for offenses committed in the course of their duties.”
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