Striker Karim Benzema filed a lawsuit against French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin for accusing him of being involved in a terrorist organization.

In October, Benzema publicly criticized the bombings in Gaza carried out by Israel. This action caused the former Real striker to be suspected by Mr. Darmanin of having links with the Muslim Brotherhood.

In response, Benzema filed a defamation lawsuit against the French Interior Minister. According to lawyer Hugues Vigier, Darmanin’s behavior was “political abuse” to humiliate others.

Benzema affirmed that he was not involved and did not know anyone from the Muslim Brotherhood as Mr. Darmanin alleged. “I am aware that my popularity is being exploited in political games,” Benzema said. “This is becoming more scandalous, while the events since October 7 deserve attention in a different way than these kinds of statements.”

Darmanin has not commented on this incident.

The Muslim Brotherhood was officially listed as a terrorist group in 2021, after the Austrian government banned them from operating under a new anti-terrorism law approved by the National Assembly in July of the same year. This organization is also considered terrorist in Saudi Arabia, where Benzema is playing for Al Ittihad Club, along with six other countries. But in France, the Muslim Brothers are not considered terrorists.

When accusing Benzema of being linked to a terrorist organization, Mr. Darmanin cited that the 36-year-old striker was completely silent about the children and innocent people massacred by Muslim terrorists. In an interview with French news agency RMC , Darmanin announced that he would not withdraw his accusations against Benzema unless the striker spoke up about the death of Dominique Bernard, a professor murdered by terrorists in Arras in early October. last.

“Did I say something? Benzema is a great player, followed by millions of people. Yet he has not said anything about the murder of a professor in Arras. He is also silent about the children who were murdered. killed, women were raped and 1,300 people were murdered by Muslim terrorists in Israel,” Darmanin said at the time.

The French Interior Minister also said that terrorism can use all aspects of society, including sports and music, to create influence on the Internet, and Benzema is a potential individual to do that because The former Real striker is famous for being an ardent Muslim practitioner.

Darmanin is not the only politician who doubts Benzema after his post last October. French parliamentarian Valerie Boyer has called for the 2022 Golden Ball and French citizenship to be stripped from this striker.

Benzema ‘s lawsuit against Darmanin was transferred to the Court of the Republic. This is the only court in France with the authority to prosecute government members for wrongdoing during their work.