French Muslim Athletes Face Backlash Over Pro-Palestinian Statements Amid Israel-Hamas Conflict

Muslim players are under fire for supporting Palestine in the war opposing it to Israel. On Sunday, Karim Benzema joined other football personalities like Nabil Fékir or Franck Ribéry in expressing his solidarity with the Palestinian people. "All our prayers for the residents of Gaza, victims once again of these unjust bombings that spare neither women nor children," he wrote on his X account. Enough to provoke the annoyance of far-right representatives.

"And for the victims of Hamas? And for the teacher in Arras? Don’t their lives count, Karim?" retorted Damien Rieu, the former parliamentary assistant. Stéphane Le Rudulier, a senator from Bouches du Rhone, also criticized the former French international: "No prayer from Benzema for the 1,500 dead including 19 French assassinated by Hamas. Not a word for 19 French massacred by terrorists. Not a gesture for the 13 French still hostages including children."

The Algerian international defender of Nice Youcef Atal also drew the wrath of political actors and beyond. He is accused of having relayed the remarks of a Palestinian preacher, Sheikh Mahmoud al-Hasanat, asking God to send "a dark day on the Jews" and "to accompany the hand" of the inhabitants of Gaza "if they throw the stone". The relayed post sparked strong reactions and the mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, asked the player to apologize, reports Le Parisien. "I expect Youcef Atal, if he has been instrumentalized, to apologize and denounce the Hamas terrorists. If that were not the case, he would no longer have his place in our club."

Faced with the controversy, the 27-year-old player apologized on Sunday to those who were shocked by his post. "I am aware that my post has shocked several people, which was not my intention, and I apologize for it. I want to clarify my point of view without any ambiguity: I firmly condemn all forms of violence, wherever they may be in the world, and I support all victims. I will never support a message of hatred. Peace is an ideal in which I firmly believe." Despite his apologies, Atal could be the target of a lawsuit. The Crif (Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France) in the South East region expects to receive a sworn translation of the content of the relayed post before taking action in this direction.