Karim Benzema defeats a far-right extremist in court
Karim Benzema had filed a defamation lawsuit against the far-right activist Damien Rieu.
Rieu was acquitted by the Lyon criminal court.
“Tonight, the thousands of Nueve gremlins are very quiet… Sah, what a pleasure!” rejoiced Damien Rieu, posting a photoshopped image of himself holding the Ballon d’Or.
In May 2022, Karim Benzema had taken legal action against the far-right activist for public defamation. The activist had published a photo of the striker raising his index finger. alongside images of jihadists making the same gesture. He was acquitted.
The Lyon prosecutor’s office had requested a fine of 10,000 euros against Damien Lefèvre (his real name) in June. The prosecutor referred to it as “an insult to those who fight against Islamist terrorism and those who have suffered in their flesh.”
The Lyon criminal court found that, while the statements were defamatory in nature. they could be considered made in good faith. resulting in an acquittal in press matters, as reported by AFP.
Sylvain Cormier, the lawyer for “KB9,” decried the decision. “Granting good faith to Damien Rieu is an absurdity,” he reacted after the verdict. Benzema’s representative had argued in June that mocking Benzema was possible. but “associating him with a terrorist,. that is something we do not have the right to do.”
In any case, this legal battle has come to an end. with victory going to one of the leaders of Reconquête. the party of Éric Zemmour.
