An image of star footballer Karim Benzema wearing traditional Saudi attire to mark the kingdom’s National Day has sparked far-right outrage in France .
On Saturday , the former Real Madrid striker took to the social platform Saudi men during special occasions such as weddings and festivals.
Saudi National Day is celebrated annually on 23 September and commemorates the renaming of the Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by a royal decree from King Abdulaziz Al Saud.
The image attracted more than 3 million “likes” across social media platforms, but also ignited significant criticism from French far-right figures who denounced Benzema’s choice of clothing as promoting an “Islamist” ideology.
“At least he’s clear,” president of the far-right National Rally party Jordan Bardella said in an interview on Sunday with BFM TV.
“He wants an Islamist way of life; he went to Saudi Arabia,” Bardella said, referring to Benzema’s June transfer to the Saudi club Al-Ittihad. “If everyone who wanted an Islamist way of life could go to Islamist countries, perhaps France would be better off.”
When questioned about labeling “one of the greatest French football players” an “Islamist”, Bardella said there was a need to “distinguish the work of the individual” and that Saudi Arabia was a “rigorist, Salafist” country, where “the hands of thieves are cut off”.
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