"He had affirmed that the footballer had a "notorious" link with the Islamist organization of the Muslim Brotherhood. Karim Benzema's defamation complaint against the Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin was dismissed on Tuesday February 13, announced Thursday the Attorney General at the Court of Cassation Rémy Heitz.

The Requests Committee of the Court of Justice of the Republic "retains that Mr. Benzema's complaint", received on January 16, "relates to comments which do not impute to him any fact which is likely to undermine his honor or for his consideration", we can read in Rémy Heitz's press release.

“This decision of the Requests Commission, made up of three magistrates from the seat of the Court of Cassation, two State Councilors and two senior advisers to the Court of Auditors, is not subject to any appeal”, specifies- he.

Also read: Karim Benzema, an ideal smoke screen for Gérald Darmanin?

The 2022 Ballon d'or was targeted by Gérald Darmanin after publishing in mid-October on Hamas on October 7.

The Minister of the Interior had argued that this position could be explained by Karim Benzema's links with the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist organization born in Egypt, where it is considered "terrorist".

“Karim Benzema is linked, as we all know, with the Muslim Brotherhood, we are attacking a hydra, which is the Muslim Brotherhood because they give an atmosphere of jihadism,” the minister said on October 16 , triggering a storm on social networks.

In his complaint, Karim Benzema argued that these accusations were “inexact”, “more likely false, but in any case made on purpose” and were “attacking” his honor and his reputation. 

The 36-year-old player, who today plays for the Saudi club Al-Ittihad and displays his Muslim faith, reaffirms in his complaint "never having had the slightest link with the Muslim Brotherhood organization, nor to [its] acquaintance with someone who would claim it”.

The Court of Justice of the Republic is the only jurisdiction authorized to prosecute and judge members of the government for offenses committed in the exercise of their functions. The public prosecutor at the Court of Cassation represents the public prosecutor.

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