In a post on X, formerly Twitter, prominent left-wing French politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon has addressed a message of support to the former Real Madrid striker and current Ballon d’Or holder Karim Benzema (35), amid controversy stirred by France’s interior minister Gérald Darmanin.
“Hello Mr Benzema,” began the head of the left-wing party France Insoumise, “I don’t know you and I don’t know anything about football. But the French government and their friends have chosen to demonise you – they call you a ‘Frenchman on paper’.”
Mélenchon continued, adding “With such enemies speaking with such words you must be a remarkable person, without ethnic or religious hatred. France belongs to everyone who chooses it, those who insult us do not deserve it.”
Benzema, who currently plays for Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad after moving from Real Madrid, found himself in the spotlight recently when he paid tribute to the victims in Gaza on his social media platform. However, his show of support for Palestine was met with accusations and criticism.
Benzema is considering taking legal action against French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin following allegations that he has ties to the terrorist organization known as the Muslim Brotherhood. The claims were made by Minister Darmanin during a televised appearance on CNews.
Benzema, a Ballon d’Or winner, has vehemently denied these allegations, and his lawyer has categorically dismissed them as “false.” The Interior Minister had accused the former Lyon and Real Madrid striker of being “notoriously linked with the Muslim Brotherhood.”
The Muslim Brotherhood is considered a terrorist organisation in several countries, including Saudi Arabia, where Karim Benzema currently plays. However, his lawyer emphasised that the Muslim Brotherhood is not recognised as a terrorist organisation in France. The former Lyon striker is also contemplating legal action against Nadine Morano, a member of the European Parliament, who labelled him an “agent of Hamas propaganda.”
Mélenchon mentioned that his own grandparents were once labelled as “French on paper” by pétainistes, a reference to the Vichy regime during World War II. The regime revoked the citizenship of those who had been French citizens for less than ten years.
GFFN | George Boxall
