As they did with Ozil... German right-wingers are exploiting Rudiger's index finger to attack Muslim players

Rüdiger is subjected to a media attack in Germany that linked him to “terrorist organizations” (Getty)

Berlin -

A huge uproar in Germany was caused by accusations against player Antonio Rudiger of being linked to “terrorist organizations” simply because he appeared in a photo on Instagram wearing a white robe on a prayer rug and raising his index finger, given that the accusation came from Julian Reichelt, the former editor-in-chief of the “Bild” newspaper, and then a decision... The player and the Football Association filed a lawsuit against the journalist on charges including hate speech, defamation and incitement.

The image only contained the phrase, “Ramadan Mubarak to all Muslims. May God accept our fasting and prayers,” and it posted the beginning of the holy month. However, Reichelt's criticism only came this week, as he linked Rüdiger's index finger to ISIS (Islamic State), claiming that the Constitutional Protection Authority (German domestic intelligence) classifies this movement as "the finger of ISIS."

The same journalist refused to apologize for linking Rüdiger with terrorism, and wrote, insisting on his words that Rüdiger’s movement “has become an undisputed salute to ISIS and Islamist killers all over the world,” adding that it is not innocent, and that whoever carries it out is associated with “a terrible ideology that has already taken over a large area.” very much in this country.”

Reichelt, former editor-in-chief of the German newspaper Bild (Getty)

Repeated accusations

Reichelt is known for his stances in support of Israel, as he publishes daily tweets on the X website that echo the official Israeli narrative. He currently works for the German “News” website, which is a populist right-wing newspaper, which adopts a line partly close to “Bild”, of which Reichelt was dismissed as editor-in-chief, for reasons related to his position in support of Israel. Abuse of influence, especially establishing relationships with women working under his command.

Abdul Samad Al-Yazidi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Muslims in Germany, told Al Jazeera Net, “This distortion is not innocent, and is not based on false information (only), but rather is a means of incitement against Muslims in Germany,” adding, “Those who launched this defamation know with certainty that raising the index finger does not It has nothing to do with ISIS. Rather, it is a symbol of monotheism, but they are trying to manufacture crises in order to incite against Muslims.”

This is not the first time that a player in the German national team has been attacked because of his conversion to Islam, as leaders of the Alternative for Germany party attacked the player, Mesut Ozil, because of his photo of him performing Umrah, claiming that this is not his real life in the West, and the campaign against him increased after his photo. With Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, which led to his decision to retire from international football.

Mesut Ozil...the player who did not receive a quarter of the praise he deserved...perhaps his honorable religious stances made someone fight him...but in my view he is one of the most brilliant players in the game industry throughout the ages.

A short clip of the great player pic.twitter.com/8ZyQbkL7N8

- Saad Al-Saud (@sa3dals3ud) March 24, 2024

The right-wing media also attacked the Moroccans in the Qatar World Cup in the same way, as the “Welt” channel (which in turn is affiliated with the Axel Springer group to which Bild belongs) claimed that the Moroccans raising their index fingers during their celebrations inside the changing room is an imitation of the “ISIS” organization. The channel later apologized after a wave of Great criticism.

Beatrix von Storch, from the Alternative for Germany party, had called for Rüdiger to be expelled from the national team in 2020, and said in press statements that he “does not represent the values ​​of the national team,” when websites returned to him clicking the like button on a post showing a shoe mark on the French president’s face. Emmanuel Macron, for which Rudiger apologized.

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A post shared by Antonio Rüdiger (@toniruediger)

Votes against Rüdiger

Reichelt's opinion was not dissimilar in Germany, as other voices came out supporting the journalist in his attack on Rüdiger, and his website published a lengthy report about those who raise their index fingers, and placed Osama bin Laden in the picture, and it was also mentioned that Anis Al-Amiri, who carried out the bloody attack in Berlin in 2016, raised His index finger before he carried out the attack that left 13 people dead and dozens injured, and was claimed by ISIS.

The article recalled a tweet by Interior Minister Nancy Pfizer, in 2022, when she denounced a student raising his index finger in a group photo at her ministry’s headquarters. She said it was “unacceptable” behavior and stated at the time that her ministry would communicate with the project owners (who coordinated the students’ visit).

The minister was cited in light of her ministry's defense of Rüdiger, as her spokesman stated in an official statement that Rüdiger's movement is an "expression of faith" and does not represent a problem for public security, "regardless of the misuse of this movement by Islamist groups."

Ahmed Mansour, who presents himself to the German media as an expert on Islamic movements, and is one of the Palestinians of 1948 who strongly supports Israel, said in his article that it is wrong to accuse Rüdiger of extremism, but that the German Federation must “create a code of conduct that provides players with guidance on using their platform responsibly.”

He claimed that young Muslims interpret Rudiger's image in a way that is far from the players' intentions, saying that this image could represent an affirmation of a particular religious identity that "in parts rejects basic democratic values."

Seran Atish, who founded what is called “the first liberal mosque in Germany,” also stated that Rüdiger’s movement “is not religious, but political,” and told the Berlin Zeitung newspaper that “the combination of carpet, clothing, and gestures is the beginning of a disturbing message.”

Atish, who supports women praying without a veil as well as mixed prayer with men, claimed that Rüdiger’s movement “is not part of prayer” and that anyone who claims that it is a harmless religious gesture is “spreading lies.”

Support Rüdiger

Rüdiger broke his silence and told Bild newspaper, and stated that the matter concerns the “finger of monotheism,” which in Islam means “the oneness of God,” and continued, “As a committed Muslim, I practice my faith, but I firmly distance myself from all forms of extremism,” admitting that “due to insufficient attention, he granted... He gave third parties the opportunity to intentionally misinterpret his posts “for the sake of division and polarization,” stressing that he would not allow him to be insulted, despised, and described as an Islamist, and therefore he decided to file a complaint.

Rüdiger grew up in the Neukölln neighborhood in Berlin, where a significant Muslim community resides. His mother fled Sierra Leone, which has a Muslim majority, due to the civil war, and she raised him alone with five other brothers, including a half-brother who played professional football. Rudiger is accustomed to showing his commitment to the Islamic religion on social media.

Rudiger in his prime (Associated Press)

Several figures stood with the player, including the representative of the Green Party, Lamia Kaddour, who wrote on the XN website that the German Football Association’s support for the player “is an important and clear signal against racism and discrimination against Muslims,” and that filing the complaint jointly and continuing to stand steadfastly behind their player “was the decision.” "They are correct and continue to stand firmly behind their player."

Helmer Kran, from the Free Democratic Party, said, "It is enough. Right-wing populists are inciting against our national player, Rüdiger. A well-known movement in Islam does not turn into Islamism if Islamists misuse it," giving the example of the German flag, which does not turn into a symbol of right-wing extremism if extremists raise it.

Al-Yazidi points out that the parties participating in the campaign have hatred against others and all other religions that they see as foreign, not just Muslims, but they do not dare to treat other religions as they do with Islam, because Islamophobia is now allowed even within Parliament, and attacks on Islam occur in broad daylight. Without there being any reaction, he continued that the continuation of the matter as it is constitutes a danger to the pluralism of German society.

Secretary General of the Supreme Council of German Muslims (Al Jazeera)

Source: Al Jazeera