Karim Benzema was the subject of serious accusations from Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin.
It’s a case that has shaken the football world and general news in recent days: Gérald Darmanin declared that Karim Benzema was maintaining “ famous links » with the Muslim Brotherhood, considered a terrorist organization. A very serious accusation which prompted the French star’s clan to react. After announcing possible legal action on Wednesday, the attacker’s lawyer, Hugues Vigier, spoke at length to RMC.
The Minister of the Interior supported his remarks by listing 3 specific points: the fact that Karim Benzema does not sing the Marseillaise before the start of the French team’s matches, his Muslim proselytizing on social networks in favor fasting, prayer or pilgrimage to Mecca, and his support for the imam of Meaux and a Russian MMA fighter.
“ We must also ask the question of whether a song from 1795 has its full meaning as it is today regardless of the chills we perhaps experience when we hear it, explained Hugues Vigier. It’s his choice, that’s no problem. We can all question the values that are supposed to bring us together. We rightly ask Islam to evolve, I do not see why we too would not consider that our fundamental values evolve over time. We always call him to account and we understand why. Is he the only one? “. As a reminder, icons of the national selection like Michel Platini did not actually sing the anthem.
Concerning the footballer’s proselytizing, the lawyer also wants to be transparent. “It’s something extraordinary that he shares his faith if he is a believer, it belongs to him. Whether he invites others to share with him his values is his problem. When there is proselytism whatever the religion, it shocks no one, it is only for Islam that this poses a problem. We must ask ourselves the question of the terms he would use when, in a proselytizing approach, he encouraged people to share his religion. What’s shocking about that? Nothing. »
Finally, on the last point, the representative of Karim Benzema recognizes an awkwardness while contextualizing things. “On the fact of having liked this message, I can only say one thing – and perhaps in disagreement with Karim Benzema – I think it was inappropriate and unfortunate. The question today is whether he is linked to the Muslim Brotherhood. Do you understand the elements that you are exposing to me to say that it would be? It has nothing to do. “.
