French footballer Karim Benzema who recently moved to an Arabian club Al-Ittihad, stirred controversy when he expressed support for Palestine amid the ongoing conflict with Israel. While criticism poured in from various quarters, it’s within France that he faced particularly serious accusations.
Interior Ministry head Gerald Darmanin accused Benzema of having ties with a group known as the Muslim Brotherhood.
This led to further division among the French public, but the Muslim community has come out in strong defence of the footballer for his stance on Palestine.
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Benzema and Muslim Brotherhood
In a recent Instagram post, Karim Benzema reiterated his support for the people of Gaza, calling for an end to bombings that affect innocent civilians, particularly women and children.
Mister Karim Benzema was accused by Darmanin on the CNews Network of having “notorious ties” with the Muslim Brotherhood. The group is a religious and political organization that advocates for a return to Islamic values and principles as a way of life, without necessarily endorsing violence to achieve their goals.
Despite these allegations, there is no concrete evidence to suggest any direct connection between the Muslim Brotherhood and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.
The controversy surrounding Benzema’s statements has also fueled public demonstrations, with protestors taking to the streets in defiance of a new ban on pro-Palestinian rallies in France.
CNN has sought Karim Benzema’s response to Darmanin’s comments, and the hashtag #WeStandWithKarimBenzema has gained momentum on social media, demonstrating the diverse range of opinions on this matter.
Reactions: we stand with Benzema
Let’s have a look at some of the reactions:
