France’s Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has accused Karim Benzema of having links to the Muslim Brotherhood, which is classified as a terrorist organisation.
On Sunday Benzema took to his X handle to pay tribute to Gazan victims.
“All our prayers for the habitants of Gaza, once again victims of these unfair bombings that spare neither women nor children.”
Reacting to Benzema’s post Darmanin, speaking to C News, through Get Football News France, said: “Benzema has notorious ties, as we all know, with the Muslim Brotherhood.”
The Muslim Brotherhood organisation is classed as a terrorist organisation in seven countries, including Saudi Arabia where Benzema plays his club football with Al Ittihad.
The Muslim Brotherhood are also classed as a terrorist organisation in Russia, Syria, Egypt, Bahrain, the UAE and Austria.
Meanwhile, Valérie Boyer, a French senator, has called for Benzema’s French nationality, as well as his Ballon d’Or to be rescinded, should Darmanin’s allegations be proven.
Darmanin’s entourage have since sought to clarify the comments made by the Interior Minister on Benzema.
According to the entourage, for several years, they claimed to have noted a slow drift of positions taken by Benzema, towards a hard, rigorous Islam, characteristic of the Brotherhood ideology, which consists of spreading Islamic norms in different societal spaces, notably in sport.
They posited that these claims are based on numerous factors, including Benzema’s refusal to sing La Marseillaise, France’s national anthem.