“United for Hakimi”: Solidarity Campaign Faces Controversial Allegations Ahead of Ballon d’Or Race
A group of activists in France has launched an online petition titled “United for Achraf Hakimi,” reflecting their support for the Moroccan star in confronting what they describe as a “deliberate smear campaign” against him, coinciding with the upcoming announcement of the Ballon d’Or winner, for which he is a prominent candidate.
The petition, published on the website “MesOpinions.com,” is accompanied by a campaign to gather signatures from supporters expressing their rejection of the accusations related to a rape case against Hakimi. They argue that these allegations arise at a suspicious time, interpreted as an attempt to tarnish his reputation and disrupt his career at a critical juncture.
The signatories emphasized that Hakimi embodies a role model for Arab youth in Europe, presenting an inspiring success story that should be supported rather than undermined. They also called for respect for the principle of “presumption of innocence” and for avoiding the exploitation of his case in damaging media or legal campaigns, especially in the absence of clear evidence or final rulings.
The petition conveys direct messages rejecting the transformation of individual achievements into platforms for defamation, advocating for the handling of the case free from preconceived judgments and media influences that could hinder justice and the rights of the parties involved.
In a related context, the “Moroccan Bar Association” expressed deep concern over what it deemed violations affecting the conditions of a fair trial. It explained that the investigation into Hakimi’s case was opened based solely on a verbal statement, without a written complaint, medical report, or tangible evidence, raising serious questions about the impartiality of the judicial process followed.
It is noteworthy that the public prosecutor in Nanterre had requested the referral of Achraf Hakimi, Paris Saint-Germain player, to a regional criminal court on charges of raping a young woman in 2023, a charge that the player has categorically denied from the outset.
