Following French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin's statement in a television interview that Karim Benzema is widely associated with the Muslim Brotherhood, a French politician is advocating for the removal of the footballer's citizenship and accolades on the grounds of alleged connections to the group.
Despite Benzema's legal team refuting the allegation as "false" in a statement to the French media, Valérie Boyer, a French senator and vice-president of the conservative Les Républicains party, remains steadfast in her demand for the revocation of Benzema's French citizenship. Boyer suggested that the initial punitive step would be to rescind the Ballon d'Or award he received in 2022 as a symbolic penalty, followed by the withdrawal of his French nationality.
Currently holding dual Algerian and French citizenship, Benzema is a member of the French national football team and competes at the club level in Saudi Arabia. The Muslim Brotherhood is a global Islamic political and social organization striving to introduce Islamic values and principles into government and society, although it has faced controversy due to connections with groups labeled extremist by some. Notably, it is considered a terrorist organization in Saudi Arabia.
While Boyer's original statement seems to have been removed from social media, it has been preserved by other users on X (formerly Twitter). An update from Boyer's official account reaffirms her intent to have Benzema stripped of his football award and French nationality.
Karim Benzema, a 35-year-old native of Lyon, made a noteworthy transfer to the Saudi club Al-Ittihad earlier this year, reportedly for €200 million. Prior to this move, he had played for both Real Madrid and Lyon.
Throughout his professional career, Benzema has been entangled in various controversies. One such instance occurred in 2010 when he faced indictment by prosecutors on charges of allegedly engaging in sexual activities with an underage prostitute. The case from 2014 was eventually dropped when the judge ruled that there was insufficient evidence to prove that Benzema was aware of the girl's underage status.
In 2015, Benzema was apprehended by the police, who alleged that he was involved in blackmailing another French international player concerning a sex tape recorded on a mobile phone. He was subsequently convicted in 2021 and received a suspended sentence along with a fine.
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