Real Madrid’s Rüdiger Sues Ex-Bild Editor Over Islamic Gesture Claim

It all started when Reichelt posted on Twitter a photo of Rüdiger raising his index finger to the sky, accompanied by an incendiary comment equating this gesture to a symbol of the so-called Islamic State organization.

In an interview with Bild, Rüdiger sought to clarify the situation. "As a practicing Muslim, I live my faith with respect and tolerance," he said. "The gesture I used is called the ’tawhid finger’ and symbolizes the oneness of God in Islam. It is used by millions of Muslims around the world and has been recognized as unproblematic by the Federal Ministry of the Interior."

Rüdiger acknowledges that his gesture may have been confusing, but he denounces the political exploitation of which he has been the subject. "I’m not going to provide a platform for division and radicalization," he firmly stated. "That’s why I decided to file a complaint against Reichelt. This is propaganda and defamation, and I will always defend myself against that."

The player has received the support of the German Football Association (DFB), which has also filed a complaint against Reichelt for "hate speech."